A senior at St. Margaret’s School was among only 20 students statewide selected by the Virginia Historical Society to participate in its seventh annual Wyndham B. Blanton Scholars Forum.

Katy Saunders, daughter of Sue Ball of Tappahannock and Frank Saunders of Mechanicsville, recently attended the two-day event, which is designed to bring together high school history and government students with nationally renowned history scholars.  She was accompanied by History Department Head Louise Velletri, who encouraged her to compete for the honor.

This year’s forum leader was award-winning author Ron Chernow, whose most recent book is the highly praised biography, Alexander Hamilton.  While participating in the forum, students had the opportunity to hear Chernow’s members-only lecture.  They then spent the following morning with him discussing Hamilton’s role in shaping early American history.  In addition, students toured the historical society’s galleries, met President Dr. Charles Bryan and had dinner at the Jefferson Hotel with Blanton alumni, who include SMS graduate Palmer Ware of Dunnsville and current senior Sydney Harris of Tappahannock.

The historical society’s Teachers Advisory Board selected forum participants on the basis of a research paper competition.  Previous forums have featured scholars Rick Atkinson, Michael Beschloss, Scott Berg, David Gergen, David McCullough and Edmund Morris.