TCS Middle School Students Recognized At The
Great History Challenge March of Champions
By Samantha DePriest
The Great History Challenge is a nationwide academic competition for middle school students, testing their knowledge of history. The challenge aims to recognize and reward students by offering a fun and engaging way to learn about and appreciate history. It not only brings pride to our school community to showcase the academic accomplishments of our students, but also gives students the opportunity to compete for scholarships.
During the school year, students participate in their individual schools through an online, trivia-style format. An estimated 55,000 students complete the assessment in schools across the country. The top students from each school advance to regional competitions, where they compete against students from other schools. Those who finish in the top percentile then move on to the national competition.
The first year the Great History Nationals Challenge was held was in Atlanta, in May 2023. TCS student Caleb Walls, an eighth grader at the time, competed alongside three other TCS students and won as the 8th Grade National Champion. He was joined by classmates Kai Szopa, Mia Pettersson, and Will Lambert at the competition.
The second Great History Nationals Challenge was held in Chicago, Illinois, in May 2024. TCS middle school students Nicholas Litzenberger, Ian Stewart, and Kai Szopa attended. Nicholas placed 14th and Ian placed 28th in the 6th-grade competition.
The third Great History Nationals Challenge took place in Orlando, Florida, in May 2025 over Memorial Day weekend. TCS seventh graders and friends Ian Stewart and Julian Diaz Yapor represented our middle school well. The slower days of summer were the perfect time to catch up with these two academic standouts and learn about their experiences.
TCS Middle School students Ian Stewart, pictured left, and Julian Diaz Yapor, pictured right. at the Great History Challenge in Orlando, Florida.
Ian Stewart, a rising 8th grader, is an avid book lover whose passion for reading began at a very young age. Encouraged by his mom, who teaches Government at Liberty University, and his dad, who often reads with him, Ian developed a deep appreciation for literature. By the age of three, he was memorizing book pages and reading aloud to his younger brother, Connor. He fondly remembers the excitement of visiting local bookstores and exploring the shelves for new books. He enjoys reading the Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales graphic novel series and loves learning about ancient history, particularly the era before the Middle Ages.
For as long as he can remember, Ian and his brother have had nightly read-aloud sessions with their parents, enjoying murder mysteries like The Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder with his mom and Rings of Fire, a book about Spartan resilience, with his dad. Although he once disliked writing due to his handwriting, he discovered a new love for it after being introduced to Chromebooks in 3rd grade. His favorite classes in middle school include Mr. Veal’s history class and Bible with Mr. Moore and Mr. Higgins. Beyond academics, Ian participates in tennis and cross country. As he shared in his 7th-grade autobiography, he aspires to one day become a veterinarian and a history teacher.
A highlight of his middle school years has been his participation in The Great History Challenge. For the second year in a row, Ian advanced to Regionals in Atlanta. The format included three rounds of 20 buzzer-style questions. Ian achieved the maximum score in every round and earned an invitation to the national competition. Nationals took place over three days, with one day set aside for practice, followed by preliminary testing and then playoffs. Ian had an impressive showing, landing in the top 20 for 7th graders nationwide and placing in the top 0.05% of all participants. “The Great History Challenge is a wonderful way for him to shine, and we are grateful for the opportunity,” shared Melissa Stewart, Ian’s mom.
Ian Stewart proudly displaying his awards after the National Great History Challenge in Orlando, Florida.
Ian Stewart pictured with his family. Pictured left to right, Connor, Allen, Ian, and Melissa Stewart.
Julian Diaz Yapor proudly displaying his awards after the National Great History Challenge in Orlando, Florida.
Julian Diaz Yapor, a rising 8th grader, has had a passion for learning since he was just three years old. Born in Idaho, he attended preschool at the Challenger School, which encouraged independence and curiosity in the classroom at a young age. Like his siblings, Julian began reading early and developed a love for self-directed learning that continues to this day. He especially enjoys Science and History, with a particular interest in 20th-century world history. He shared that he expands his understanding by watching history documentaries on YouTube.
From ages six to eleven, Julian lived in the Dominican Republic before moving to Georgia and joining TCS in 5th grade. The transition was smooth, thanks in part to sharing the same homeroom and lunch table as his friend Ian Stewart. He explored new interests through wrestling in 6th grade and currently plays the viola in the middle school orchestra, where he has found inspiration and encouragement from Mrs. Sharissa Manwaring.
Julian Diaz Yapor enjoying his first time at the Great History Challenge.
This year marked Julian’s first time participating in The Great History Challenge. He advanced through Regionals at Sugar Hill Middle School and went on to compete in Nationals in Orlando. He shared that he really enjoyed competing with over 500 students from around the country (about 150 per grade). Julian found the experience both exciting and motivating. He and Ian supported and pushed each other throughout the process, often practicing and preparing together. Julian is already looking forward to competing again in 8th grade and encourages his friends to engage with history through media and shared learning experiences.
Our school community loves to celebrate and honor our students' accomplishments. We are so proud of Ian and Julian and look forward to what God has in store for them this upcoming school year.
