More than a century after her convictions pioneered bold new territory for women, the example of “daredevil” reporter and adventurous traveler Nellie Bly has inspired a local young woman to excel in similar fashion.

Eighth-grader Jenna Spray’s research on Bly propelled an exhibit she created to wins at the regional and state level, and she is now competing in the National History Day finals.

“She inspired me to push for what I believe in, no matter how far out of reach it may appear,” Spray said of Bly.

Her exhibit, titled “Nellie Bly: Changing America One Story at a Time,” is a perfect fit for this year’s “Leadership and Legacy” theme for the National History Day scholarship contest, and it was selected over 300 other projects at the regional level and 27 at the state level.

Bly is known for digging up the truth behind the treatment of arrested union strikers and traveling around the world in 72 days in response to Jules Verne’s fictional work.

“This was a big deal because it proved that women could do things on their own,” Spray wrote in her bibliography. “Back in the late 1800s, not many women could, or would.”

Spray herself was inspired to achieve after reading Bly’s “Ten Days in a Madhouse” and “Six Months in Mexico.”

“Jenna chose a topic she found fascinating, then fit her research and presentation skills together to showcase her efforts,” Chester County Historical Society Regional National History Day Coordinator Kelley Meagher said. “That is a great aspect of National History Day – students guide themselves through the research and presentation process.”