Congratulations To Stewart School Researchers

The Birth of Stewart School award-winning researchers in Albany on the steps of the Capitol with Assemblyman Thomas McKevitt, bottom right; Teacher Dolores Volpe, last row, second from left; and several of the students' parents.

On October 22, students in last year's Quest classes at Stewart School accepted the prestigious Laura and Robert Chodos Award for Excellence in Student Research Using Historical Records, Grades 4-5, in the Rotunda of the NYS Education Building in Albany.

The students received the award for their massive research project, The Birth of Stewart School, which captured first place in the contest administered by the NYS Archives. Each student accepted a certificate presented by Robert M. Bennett, Chancellor of the Board of Regents, at a luncheon held in honor of the winning researchers. Their teacher, Dolores Volope, also received a certificate.

The day included a tour of the Capitol personally conducted by Assemblyman Thomas McKevitt; a visit to the NYS Archives, where a conservator demonstrated how documents are restored; and a peek at some of the Archives' most precious treasures.

Criteria for evaluating contest entries were: the extent to which the students used historical records; a bibliography that demonstrated and explained such use; the extent to which information from historical records was used; historical accuracy and a demonstrated understanding of historical context; evidence of creativity and imagination in interpreting and integrating information from historical records with other information; and clear writing, good organization, and correct grammar and spelling.