GFA Junior Earns Silver Medal at International History Olympiad in Paris

This summer, GFA junior Conner H. ’26 represented Connecticut on the global stage at the International History Olympiad, held in Paris.

Conner earned his spot by qualifying through an exam last year and joined “Team Connecticut,” which included students from schools across the state such as Darien High School, Xavier High School, and Marine Science Magnet School. The week-long Olympiad brought together 61 teams from around the world to compete across a wide range of individual and team events. In addition to traditional areas such as European History, Art History, and Geography, students tested their knowledge in categories as varied as Pop Music History, South Asian History, Sports History, and STEM History. The competition also featured debates, simulations, and even historical gaming tournaments.

Team Connecticut finished 17th overall, but Conner’s standout achievement came in the Historiography Exam, where he placed second among 146 participants worldwide. This rigorous event required students to analyze primary and secondary sources to answer complex research questions—a skill closely aligned with GFA’s history curriculum, which emphasizes inquiry, critical thinking, and research over memorization.

Conner’s success highlights both his own hard work and the ways in which GFA students are encouraged to approach history with curiosity and depth. Congratulations, Conner!