ALBANY -- To encourage students to use historical records, the New York State Archives, a program of the State Education Department, is sponsoring the 17th annual Student Research Awards. The 2007 contest is open to all New York students in grades 4-12 who use historical records in their research projects.
Three awards are presented each year: grades 4-5, grades 6-8, and grades 9-12.
The awards consist of a framed certificate, a check for $100 from an endowment
established by Regent Emerita Laura Chodos and her husband Robert Chodos, an
invitation to have lunch with the Regents in Albany, and a behind-the-scenes
tour of the State Archives.
Eligible projects are computer-based entries, such as websites or PowerPoint
presentations; exhibits; documentaries; performances; research for a historical
marker, property or district; and traditional research papers.
Student Research Award winners for 2006 were: Phoebe Phelps, Lindsey Howe, Kennedy Howe, Taylor Canto, Gary Russo, Katherine Bunora, James Bunora, Gabrielle Dickinson, Kyala Clegg, Tiara Woodard, Danielle Zaleski, Cindy Connoly, Rebecca Penney, Erin Pike, Courtney Bode, Alissa Hassenplug, and Cara Masterson – fourth and fifth grade students at the Walden Elementary School (Orange County) – for their entry Walden-Yesterday and Today.
Other winners included Edward Bugniazet and Nicholas LaSorsa, eighth grade students at the Windward School (Westchester County) for their PowerPoint presentation, The Harlem Renaissance; and Lauren Koenig, a tenth grade student from Solomon Schechter High School (Nassau County), for the documentary, "I Took the Canal" – Theodore Roosevelt Takes a Stand For American Imperialism.
Julie Daniels, coordinator of the awards program, explained that in order for an entry to be competitive, a substantial portion of the research should be based on historical records from archives, museums, historical societies, libraries, local governments, or other organizations. She offered some examples of historical records: original letters, diaries, and photographs; meeting minutes; police and court records; ledgers, census records; and wills.
Although the deadline for entry is June 1, Ms. Daniels explained that the most
successful projects usually take students months to develop. For information
about this year’s program, click on Education at www.archives.nysed.gov,
call (518) 474-6926 or email archedu@mail.nysed.gov.