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Oak Grove Middle School 7th grade student Ruby Pichel will represent �ԹϺ��� at the National History Day competition at the University of Maryland in June. She qualified with a first place finish in the state-level competition in Minneapolis in April. Competing students choose a history topic to research and present to a panel of judges in categories like research papers, exhibits, video documentaries, performances or websites.

Pichel placed first in the Junior Paper category with her research paper, Heroes On Wheels: The Impact and Legacy of the Freedom House Ambulance Service, which examines how the Freedom House Ambulance Service transformed emergency medical care in Pittsburgh from the late 1960s to mid-70s. Her research highlights how the program introduced lifesaving pre-hospital treatment that became a model for modern emergency medical services across the U.S.

Pichel is in the district’s Dimensions Academy program for academically gifted students. She’s excited to participate in the next level of the competition.

“Being at nationals will be an accomplishment in itself. It’d be really cool if I get a medal, but it’s icing on the cake. Getting this far is the reward,” Pichel says.

Pichel will spend time refining her project in preparation for the national competition, where students from across the country will present their research and compete for top honors.