This year, the Illinois Supreme Court Historic Preservation Commission gave an award for the most outstanding exhibit on the Illinois court system. This year's recipient(s) were Lauren O'Donnell & Ashley Carr, 7th graders from Tri-Valley Middle School. The Tri-Valley School District is an ECE-12 district located in Downs, approximately 8 miles southeast of Bloomington-Normal. The district is the product of the 1962 consolidation of the Downs and Ellsworth School Districts and is approximately 100 square miles in size. District student enrollment is 1043. Lauren said they became interested in the topic through her grandmother & grandfather. Lauren said, "My grandfather is a historian and researches Abraham Lincoln and my grandmother lives in Mt. Pulaski." The award was presented by Matt Burns, Director of Administration for the Commission. Congratulations Ashley & Lauren! The Illinois Supreme Court Historic Preservation Commission looks forward to presenting more awards at the Illinois History Fair. For more information on receiving an award feel free to contact us at (217) 670-0890 or by email at webmaster@illinoiscourthistory.org.