The commission moved and approved three Loudoun History Award recipients: James Anderson (Friends of Balls Bluff), Diane Helgenjaris (nomination materials filed under Diane Helgenjaris/Moltenjaris in submissions) and Travis Shaw (Virginia Piedmont Heritage director of education), the commission decided during its nominations discussion.

Commission discussion noted Travis Shaw’s extensive educational work — staff estimated he has engaged more than 80,000 students through school visits and programs over roughly a decade — but commissioners also raised an eligibility question because Shaw is employed as a paid public historian. Commissioners said they would try to reconcile Shaw’s paid work with award criteria by focusing on his volunteer or uncompensated contributions where appropriate; no formal change to eligibility policy was adopted at the meeting.

Commissioners discussed other nominees, including Gertrude Evans and Alicia Cohen (authors/exhibitors whose collaborative exhibit helped inform a Black Patriots and Loyalists symposium) and several other applicants. The body agreed to notify those nominees that their submissions were favorably received and to encourage them to reapply next year with broader documentation of past work.

A motion to adopt the three recipients carried by voice vote; the meeting transcript records a unanimous “Aye” from commissioners present. The transcript did not record a roll-call vote or the names of the motion’s maker and seconder in the public remarks. Commissioners agreed to finalize program logistics: photos and brief remarks will be scheduled for the awards presentation, and the commission will prepare a press release and invitations.