Eleven Dolores middle school students recently competed in the regional National History Day competition in Denver, and two students qualified for nationals.

Seventh-graders Anaya Martinez and Nina Hufman’s website about American explorer John Wesley Powell beat out student projects from larger urban schools in Colorado.

They will head to the National Archives in Washington, D.C., to compete against student projects from across the nation.

“It’s a once-in-a-life-time opportunity,” Martinez said. “We’re so excited.”

The students researched Powell’s first-ever boat trip down the Grand Canyon in 1869. They studied his journals, then created a website that chronicled the epic, disaster-packed journey.

“I like that he was adventurous and was not afraid of the challenge to go on a river that had not been explored yet,” Hufman said.

Martinez said the interesting topic was inspiring, and that she and Hufman worked well together.

“It was a lot of hard work, and a nervous experience presenting the project, but we supported each other and did it,” Martinez said.

The history buffs are refining the website in preparation for the national finals. Their story also focuses on Powell’s positive and respectful relationship with Native American tribes he encountered.

“He learned about their culture, artwork and language, and inspired others to learn about Native Americans,” Hufman said.

Two fundraisers are set up to help pay for their June trip to the capital. A flower bulb sale is happening at http://bit.ly/24LWfhY and a GoFundMe account is at https://www.gofundme.com/22zakbg