New York State Archives Accepting Submissions for 33rd Annual Student Research Awards Statewide Competition

The New York State Archives and Archives Partnership Trust are now accepting entries for the 2023 New York State Student Research Awards program, State Education Commissioner Betty A. Rosa announced today. This year marks the 33^rd year anniversary of the competition, which is open to all students in grades four to twelve and offers a platform for young people to explore and engage with their state's history by creating inspiring projects for award consideration. Winners will be selected in the elementary, middle school, and high school divisions.

Board of Regents Chancellor Lester W. Young, Jr. said, “The pursuit of research is a cornerstone of the educational experience. This annual research awards program encourages our young people to engage in such research to help empower them to be changemakers who can positively impact their communities and improve society. Furthermore, it provides students with a broad range of opportunities to expand their interests, learn about the past and to examine how history impacts the present.”

State Education Commissioner Betty A. Rosa said, “By participating in this invaluable opportunity, our students are learning to uncover, interpret and apply lessons from our past to help them understand trends across time, learn to resolve problems and to nurture and ignite a lifelong quest for learning. This annual research competition not only reinforces the rich history of New York state, but also helps to prepare our young people to expand their personal knowledge base and to advance their understanding of our complex world.”

The Student Research Awards program increases cooperation among schools and organizations with historical records that are useful for education by encouraging students to explore the history held within the repositories of New York State. To be eligible for the awards, students must undertake original historical research using historical records, submit an annotated bibliography, and be nominated by a mentor, who can be an educator, parent, or another adult community member. Projects may be submitted in any format, including video, research paper, or exhibits, and must be submitted by July 1, 2023. Winners will be notified by mid-September and formally announced in October 2023.

These awards are funded by generous contributions from the Chodos Family Fund and other donors to the Archives Partnership Trust, a 501(c)3 organization. The Trust builds education, preservation, and outreach programs not funded by the state, making accessible over 350 years of New York’s colonial and state government records housed in the State Archives. The State Archives is a program of the New York State Education Department.

Please visit the State Archives’ ConsidertheSourceNY.org for detailed guidelines, the Student Research Awards application materials, or to learn more about the 2022 winners and their projects.