More than 700,000 students across the country participated in this year's competition, with about 2,000 advancing to the national event. Smith's essay beat out 84 other finalists to win in the "Best Senior Entry on an International Theme" category.

Other students from Kahuku High School, Waipahu Intermediate and Moanalua High School also performed well in the national competition.

Smith had not realized she was eligible for The History Channel's $5,000 cash prize when she entered the contest. "It was a total surprise," she said.

She has participated in National History Day for the last five years, placing sixth in the nation in 2001. "I'm really interested in learning things and researching," said Smith, the daughter of two college professors.

She finds Eastern European history of particular interest.

Her older sister, working on her dissertation in Scandinavian history, helped Smith develop the theme for her essay. The Swedish Vikings captured her interest after she visited Sweden last summer and read about Swedes in a book on Russian history.

One of 15 valedictorians at her high school graduation earlier this month, Smith will attend Brigham Young University-Provo in the fall and plans to use her prize money to help cover college expenses. She is thinking about majoring in journalism, music or Russian.

Bob Buss, executive director of the Hawai'i Council for the Humanities, said Hawai'i's good showing at the national event is not unusual. "We have had first-place winners in the past," he said.

This year, a group from Waipahu Intermediate School won a silver medal and $500

for their display on "Women in WWII: Exploring New Opportunities." Amelyn Fines, Normie Galapon and Eljean Madio participated in this project under teacher Lorena Aping.

Jennifer Lucas, another of Aping's students, won an outstanding state award and placed seventh in the nation for her display on "Sigmund Freud: Exploring Ways to Reveal the Unconscious Mind."

Moanalua High School student Nikki Katsutani's display on "Manjiro's Encounter with the U.S. and the Modernization of Japan" also won an outstanding state award and placed eighth in the nation. Her teacher was Kevin Chaitin.

Kahuku High School students Lilika Fonua, Jackie Lautaha and Noelle Spring, placed seventh for a performance on "Gauguin: The Noble Savage." Their teacher was Lorey Ishihara.

Ishihara also taught Adam Turin, who was recognized in the Irish or Irish-American History category, winning $1,000 for his performance "The Irish Gangs of New York: Encounters and Exchanges with Crime and Corruption: A Lasting Imprint on America."

Sarah Fincke of Kalaheo High School was a finalist for the Richard T. Farrell Teacher of Merit Award, winning a set of videos for her school from The History Channel.

The Hawai'i Council on Humanities is offering workshops this summer for teachers interested in participating in the state National History Day competition. For more information call 732-5402 or e-mail info@hihumanities.org.