ALBANY - The Board of Regents and the New York State Archives have selected thirteen fifth grade students from P.S. 197 Manhattan Elementary School as the recipients of the 2003 Laura and Robert Chodos Award for Excellence in Student Research Using Historical Records, Grades 4-5.
The award-winning entry is a research paper, entitled A Home of his Own: Hamilton Grange/ Harlem Heritage, submitted by Kamisha Anderson, Izelle Riojas, Charisse Strong, Derrick Brown, Luchen Thomas, Kiarivel Peralta, DeQuan Mitchell, Peter Collins, Stephanie Castillo, Norma Rivera, Davine Nichols, Joshua Rivera, and Gabriel Devoe.
The award, which includes a framed certificate and a cash gift, will be presented to the students at a luncheon ceremony at the State Education Department in Albany on November 13, 2003. Their teacher, Joan Weisberger, will also be recognized.
This award is presented annually to a student or group of students in New York State who have made outstanding use of historical records in their research. It recognizes the students' work for demonstrating excellence based on specific criteria: using a variety of historical records, drawing on information from those records; and interpreting and integrating that information with creativity and imagination.
Using historical records obtained during a tour of the National Park Service Site Hamilton Grange, students from P.S. 197 Manhattan researched the life and contributions of Alexander Hamilton. Students compiled a written report about the architecture of Hamilton Grange and wrote a fictional account of what Alexander Hamilton's reaction might be if he were to return to Hamilton Grange in the year 2003. Students used information from historic documents to support their fictional accounts, comparing Hamilton's original intent and hopes for the building with its present day location and condition.
The annual Archives Awards program recognizes outstanding efforts in archives and records management work in New York State by a broad range of individuals and organizations. A complete list of this year's award recipients follows:
William Hoyt Advocacy Award
Thomas G. Clingan, Albany County Clerk
Program Excellence in a Historical Records Repository
Canajoharie Library and Art Gallery
William H. Kelly Award for Excellence in Local Government Archival Program
Development
Ulster County
Cheryl Steinbach Award for Excellence in Local Government Records Management
Niagara County
Excellence in State Agency Archival Program Development
Binghamton University
Debra E. Bernhardt Award for Excellence in Documenting New York's History
Consumer/Expatient/Survivor Oral History Project
Regents Award of Distinction for Student Research
Ludlum Elementary School, Hempstead School District
Laura and Robert Chodos Award for Excellence in Student Research Using Historical
Records, Grades 4-5
Kamisha Anderson, Izeele Riojas, Charisse Strong, Derrick Brown, Luchen Thomas,
Kiarivel Peralta, DeQuan Mitchell, Peter Collins, Stephanie Custillo, Norma
Rivera, Davine Nichols
Joshua Rivera, Gabriel Devoe, fifth graders at P.S. 197 M, Manhattan.
Teacher: Joan Weisberger.
Laura and Robert Chodos Award for Excellence in Student Research Using Historical
Records, Grades 6-8
Daniel Mann, 8th grader at Felix Festa Middle School, Clarkstown School District.
Teachers: Barbara Kalmar and Laura Padilla
Laura and Robert Chodos Award for Excellence in Student Research Using Historical
Records, Grades 9-12
Laura Caccavo, 9th grader at Clarkstown High School North
Teachers: Penelope Macias and Christina Teresa Vickery
Bruce W. Dearstyne Educator Award for Excellence in the Use of Local Government
Records
Larry Slanovich, Yorkshire-Pioneer School District, Yorkshire, New York