Allison Carruthers: "The Nuclear Frontier and Effects of the Manhattan Project"

Pictured: Allison with Bernice Gutierrez, TBDC steering Committee

National History Day Project submitted by Alison Carruthers: "The Nuclear Frontier and Effects of the Manhattan Project"

"My name is Alison Carruthers. I am 14 years old and go to Hope Christian Middle School. I am competing in a history project called National History Day (NHD). I chose to do a documentary on the Manhattan Project. I picked out the Manhattan Project because it stood out to me and was an important part of US History.

When I started to do my research, I found out about the Trinity Downwinders and decided to add it into my video. I am hoping that with this video and my research, I can shine a new light on the Manhattan Project, and share the story of Downwinders. I will be competing on National History Day, June 12th at the University of Maryland."

You can view her documentary below:

Thanks to our community and supporters, Allison was successfully sent to Maryland and gave her presentation. While she did not advance, we are still grateful for our supporters and are very proud of Allison!

Above: Alison received Second Place Award at NHD State competition which qualifies her to compete at Nationals at College Park.

Above: Alison, on stage, presents her National History Day project entitled: The Nuclear Frontier and Effects of Manhattan Project

Above: Alison receives ribbon award from Heather McClenahan, New Mexico History Day Coordinator.

Above: Alison with proud mom Madeline

Above: Alison receives Certificate of Achievement

Above: Alison receives First Place ribbon at NHD Regional Compton

Alison's grandmother Margie Padilla is a Downwinder struggling with cancer.

Alison chose this topic because her family is currently struggling with cancer, and she wanted more information as to why. Her grandmother, Margie Padilla, to whom she is remarkably close, is a breast cancer survivor and currently received results of another case of cancer elsewhere in her body. She has another close family member who is dealing with cancer now as well.

Above: Alison's beloved grandmother Margie Padilla is a Downwinder battling cancer.

What is National History Day? It's not just a day — It's a life-changing experience!

Each year nearly 3,000 students with their families and teachers gather at the University of Maryland, College Park for the week-long National Contest.

They come from all fifty United States including New Mexico, the District of Columbia, Guam, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, Department of Defense Schools in the Atlantic, and international schools in China, Korea, and elsewhere (NHD International). The excitement can be felt across the campus.