HomeMy Public PortalAboutTOL PR 2011-07-14 Local History Research Award
Town of Leesburg
News Release
For Immediate Release
Olivia Corso, Tuscarora High School Student, Receives Local
History Award from Thomas Balch Library Advisory
Commission
Annual award, given each year at the Loudoun County Public Schools Social
Science Fair, recognizes excellence in local history research
Leesburg, VA (July 14, 2011) – On June 9, 2011, at Loudoun County Public Schools’ 15th annual
Social Science Fair, Leesburg’s Thomas Balch Library Advisory Commission selected Olivia Joy
Corso, a rising sophomore at Tuscarora High School, as the recipient of the Commission’s local
history research award.
Olivia Corso is the daughter of George and Jennifer
Corso of Leesburg. According to her parents,
Olivia’s interest in history was sparked by her love of
historical fiction. She chose her topic – the Battle of
Ball’s Bluff – because the battle was fought right
here in Leesburg and involved local citizens. During
her research for the project, she visited the
battlefield at Ball’s Bluff several times, as well as
Union Cemetery in Leesburg, the Thomas Balch
Library and Rust Library. She even spoke by phone
with James Morgan, the author of A Little Short of
Boats: The Fights at Ball’s Bluff and Edwards Ferry.
In addition to the $100 award prize, Olivia will be
invited to the Loudoun History Awards on
November 13, 2011, where she will have the
opportunity to present her research. She will also receive an autographed copy of Morgan’s
book.
Jim Roberts, a member of the Thomas Balch Library Advisory Commission, and Alexandra
Gressitt, director of the Thomas Balch Library, served as the judging team for the award.
According to Ms. Gressitt, all of the student projects were creative and the array of impressive
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TOL PR 2011-07-14 Local History Research Award
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and imaginative projects was stunning. They were particularly impressed with Olivia’s project,
though, because it dealt with topics not usually tackled by students of this age, such as
battlefield strategy and political and military analysis. Olivia’s project, “Who Did the Battle of
Ball’s Bluff Affect, and How Did It Change the Lives of the Men Involved?”, focuses on the
leadership qualities of leaders on both sides of the conflict, illustrating the impact the battle
had on these gentlemen. The Battle of Ball’s Bluff was fought in Leesburg on October 21-22,
1861. Ms. Gressitt also noted the timeliness of Olivia’s project, given that the United States is
that currently observing the Sesquicentennial of the American Civil War.
The Loudoun County Public Schools Social Science Fair is held in June each year and recognizes
student work in 17 social science categories. All 9th grade students are required to complete a
research project in a social science discipline, consisting of a research paper and a visual
presentation of the research results. 10th, 11th and 12th grade students may participate if they
are enrolled in a social science class and complete the research as part of the class
requirements. After competing at the individual schools’ fairs, projects are selected to compete
at the county-wide Social Science Fair. Award selection is based on the student’s research
paper, visual presentation and an interview.
The Thomas Balch Library Advisory Commission established the local history research award at
the Social Science Fair in 2008 as part of the Town’s 250th anniversary celebration. The award
complements the Loudoun History Awards, hosted by the Commission in November each year.
Recipients may be selected from any of the Social Science Fair categories.
Contact:
Alexandra S. Gressitt
Library Director
agressitt@leesburgva.gov
703-737-7196
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