POLAND — Bruce M. Whittier Middle School hosted its sixth annual Whittier History Day on Feb. 15.

In preparation, seventh- and eighth-grade students chose historical topics related to the theme, “Taking a Stand in History,” and conducted research through libraries, archives, museums, oral history interviews and historic sites.

After analyzing and interpreting their sources and drawing conclusions about their topics’ significance in history, students presented their work in original papers, websites, exhibits, performances or documentaries.

Volunteer judges from the community interviewed students about their research, scored projects and helped select top projects to represent Whittier Middle School at Maine History Day on Saturday, April 8.

Top projects at the state level will qualify for National History Day, an academic program for middle school students, sponsored by the History Channel.

Bruce M. Whittier Middle School students participated in the annual Whittier History Day. The following students were invited to the state competition: back from left, Jay Hawkes, Catherine Tibbetts, Sarah Martin, Kat Darling, Elizabeth Young, Ashlyn Bosse, Summer Grant, Emma Gagne, Spencer Cramp, Lucas Frechette; center, Kaylin O’Leary, Brayden Gurney, Parker Sherburne, Dakota Blakir, Trevor Robbins, Sophie Patenaude, Amy Fryda, Erika Olson, Ashton Guerin, Owen Landry, Abby Peterson, Bree Storer; front, Emily Boenig, Emma Williams, Colin Crosby, Kadie Coutts-Farrington, Emily Bellegarde, Veronica Harnden, Miranda Maung, Danielle Strout; not pictured, Allison Ferland, Ben Lasalle and Haley Bartlett.

Eighth-grader Ashlyn Bosse finished second in the individual exhibits division and is invited to represent Whittier Middle School in Augusta at Maine History Day.