Assemblywoman Maureen O'Connell has announced that the New York State Archives will be holding its 14th annual Student Research Award to promote and recognize excellence in student research.

"This competition is open to all New York State students in grades four through 12," O'Connell said. "This award encourages students to explore the wealth of historical records found in archives, libraries and other community organizations throughout New York."

Three awards are presented each year, one in each category: 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. Certificates of Merit will be awarded to those entries, other than the winners, that show a heavy reliance on historical records to support their research.

Eligible projects are traditional research papers, exhibits, audiovisual productions, performances, works of fiction or drama, research for a historical marker, property or district and computer-based entries, such as websites or PowerPoint presentations.

According to O'Connell, the competition rules are as follows:

-Individual students and groups of students, including the entire class, may be nominated.

-A teacher or administrator in the school attended by the student or group of students must make all the nominations for the award.

-Entries submitted for competition must be researched and developed during the July 1, 2003 - June 1, 2004 school year.

-Research products prepared for other competitions, e.g., History Day, will be eligible if they meet other relevant criteria, especially the use of historical records.

-Teachers of fourth- and fifth-grade students must contact the State Archives before submitting an application.

-An annotated bibliography is required for all entries. Bibliographies should contain all sources used in preparing the entry.

-Annotations for each source must explain how the source was used and how it contributed to the project; bibliographies may be as long as necessary to include all sources used.

-Citations and bibliographic references must follow a standard bibliographic format.

-Any case of plagiarism will result in disqualification.

-An entry form must accompany all entries, with all information completed.

-Five copies of the entry form must be submitted.

-All entries must be postmarked by June 1, 2004 and submitted to: Student Research Awards, New York State Archives, 9B52 Cultural Education Center, Albany, NY 12230.

According to O'Connell, award recipients will be selected by Sept. 15 and will be announced during Archives Week in October 2004. For additional information about the student research award, visit www.archives.nysed.gov/a/grantsawards/ga_student_sraguidelines.shtml, e-mail inquiries to jdaniels@mail.nysed.gov or contact O'Connell's district office at 739-5119.