Revere students heading to national competition

REVERE – Students from the Rumney Marsh Academy are going to the National History Day Fair in Washington, D.C. for the third year in a row.Seventh-graders Anthony Cataldo and Michael Dello Russo will be representing Rumney Marsh in D.C. from June 10-14.It has been a long road for the young history students, they said Tuesday.?We started working on our projects in October once we found out this year?s theme and worked on them until December,” Cataldo said.This year?s theme was revolution, reaction and reform.Once Cataldo and Dello Russo completed their projects, they had to compete in school, city, regional and state fairs before qualifying for nationals.Dello Russo decided to focus his project on child labor laws.?I know nowadays you have to get papers if you want to work if you are a kid and you need to be a certain age,” Dello Russo said. “Back then, it wasn?t like that. It?s crazy what they got away with.”Cataldo focused on the 1960 presidential election and how television had a major role in deciding its outcome for the first time.?I have always been very interested in politics and presidents,” Cataldo said. “This was the first year a debate was televised and that had a very big impact on the election.”Dello Russo said he was surprised he was chosen to go to D.C.?I got to go to nationals last year so I didn?t think I was going to go again for the second time in a row,” Dello Russo said. “I just took it one step at a time.”Cataldo, however, had his eyes on D.C. from the start.?When we started, I just kept thinking what can I do to get to Washington?” Cataldo said.Science teacher Michael DiMarino said having the students do so well in the fair helps motivate other students to participate. “Last year, Anthony went all the way to state and almost got to nationals but came up just a little short,” DiMarino said. “I think that was a good motivator.”Sara Brown can be reached at [email protected].