Students from Belém secure a spot in the final of the National History Olympiad of Brazil
Students from the State School Presidente Costa e Silva, on Almirante Barroso Avenue, in Souza, are competing with students from all over the country
At the State School Presidente Costa e Silva, in Belém, three students have been selected for the final phase of the 17th National History Olympiad of Brazil (ONHB), organized by the State University of Campinas (Unicamp), in São Paulo.
This participation represents an important advancement for public education in Pará, which now has a presence among the finalists of the national competition, to be held on August 30 and 31, at the Unicamp campus in Barão Geraldo, Campinas (SP). The state school is the only public institution in Belém qualified for the in-person final.
The team “Raízes de Belém,” composed of Ana Victoria Sousa da Conceição, Emerson Vinicius Pimentel Ribeiro, and Esio Pinheiro Silva Barros, consists of students from the 1st year of High School and is among the finalists of the competition.
This year, the central theme is “Information: production, circulation, limits, and possibilities,” proposing a deep discussion about the role of information in society, the impacts of the media, and the relationship between communication and historical memory.
"This last phase was quite challenging, requiring a lot of effort and research from all of us. But now, we can see that all the work was worth it. I always knew we would make it, thanks to the team's dedication, which was committed at each stage, not just in this final phase. Reaching the final was an incredible experience, a true feeling of mission accomplished. When the news came out, it was a huge gratification. Now, for this last phase, I am really hoping we can come back with the medal and the trophy, which will undoubtedly be marked in our history," comments Ana Victoria Sousa, a student.
The 17th National History Olympiad of Brazil consisted of six phases of online tests and one in-person final phase. "The previous phases were challenging, but we managed to organize ourselves and complete all the stages as a team. The last phase was the most difficult, and we were anxious about the result. When we learned about the call for the final, it was a huge joy, as all the effort, research, and dedication were worth it," says Emerson Vinicius, a student.
Student Esio Pinheiro also shared his excitement and hope for the last stage of the competition, highlighting how significant this experience has been for him and his team.
"For the final phase, my biggest expectation is that my team and I can give our best, perform well, and, who knows, win a medal. If we can come back with the bronze, it will already be a great achievement. That is my hope," said the student.
About the ONHB - Created in 2009, the ONHB is an extension project of Unicamp aimed at stimulating critical thinking and interest in History. The competition brings together students from all over the country in a learning journey that goes far beyond simple memorization of facts, promoting a formative and reflective assessment.
The initiative is coordinated by the History Department of Unicamp and has the support of the Student Support Service (SAE), the National History Association (Anpuh), CNPq, and the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation (MCTI). The olympiad also involves the collaboration of teachers, undergraduate students, master's students, and doctoral students from different institutions in Brazil.
“Reaching the in-person phase of the National History Olympiad of Brazil is already a great achievement, with finalist medals and the chance to compete for gold, silver, and bronze. The competition changes the students' routine, who work in teams for six weeks on challenging tasks that go beyond the curriculum, such as analyzing documents and social, cultural, and political themes. In Pará, participation is still recent but is gaining strength. It is a source of pride, especially as a teacher in the state network, to take public school students to the final, something that draws attention and values our education. The Costa e Silva School provided total support, with multimedia and maker classrooms, which were fundamental in the preparation,” highlights Rodrigo Dornelles, the students' teacher.
The ONHB is also part of Unicamp's “Olympic Spots” program, offering participants, based on their performance, the chance to directly enter undergraduate courses at the university, including two spots in the History course, without needing to take the traditional entrance exam.
