Provided by PWCS
What if some of the most important stories in American history were hiding in your own backyard? That’s the question a group of Charles J. Colgan Sr. High School students sought to answer through a video series highlighting Prince William County’s historic sites for the America 250 initiative.
Created by Colgan High sophomores Reagan Hawk and Deen Lateef, juniors Shyla Grover, Brayden Nowak, and Alaina Spohrer, and senior Clarissa Medrano, the project highlights local landmarks while encouraging residents, especially young people, to explore the county’s history ahead of the nation’s 250th anniversary in 2026. The videos are available on the Prince William County Office of Historic Preservation’s YouTube channel.
The project began with an idea from Lateef, a volunteer tour guide at the Brentsville Courthouse Historic Centre, who wanted to connect his classmates with local history.
“I started seeing all these celebrations happening everywhere, and I loved that, but it also got me wondering how many people actually know about the hidden sites and stories in our own backyard,” Lateef said. “When I asked my friends and peers, most of them had no idea these places even existed.”
Working with fellow Student Council Association officers, Lateef proposed a video series that would tell the stories of Prince William County’s historic sites through student voices.
The project received support from the Prince William County Office of Historic Preservation. Historic Site Manager Page Gibbons Backus helped ensure historical accuracy and coordinated filming and editing.
Throughout the project, students discovered that many important historical sites exist just minutes from places they pass every day.
“I was surprised by how many significant historical sites are located right here in Prince William County,” Spohrer said. “The project opened my eyes to stories and places I might never have explored otherwise.”
Researching Bristoe Station gave Medrano a new appreciation for the connection between history and everyday life.
“I thought it was meaningful that a place with such an important history is also somewhere members of our community can simply visit, walk through and experience for themselves,” Medrano said. “It made me realize that history does not always have to be found behind the walls of a museum.”
Learning about King’s Highway also revealed to Grover the important role the route played during the Revolutionary War while reinforcing lessons from her Advanced Placement U.S. History coursework.
Nowak said the America 250 anniversary provides an opportunity to remind people that local history deserves the same attention as national history.
“As we mark the anniversary of America 250, we are reminded of the values that have built this country,” he said, adding that understanding shared history can help unite communities.
Beyond exploring history, the project helped students develop skills aligned with their career interests.
For Hawk, writing and presenting her portion of the video strengthened skills she hopes to use in a future acting career.
“The project gave me an opportunity to practice presenting and storytelling while helping others learn about local history,” Hawk said.
Lateef credited Prince William County Public Schools and Colgan staff with helping transform an idea into a community project.
“PWCS gave me the space and support to actually act on an idea instead of just having it,” he said, noting the encouragement he received from Student Council sponsors and school administrators.
Through their videos, the students hope more community members will discover the stories behind Prince William County’s historic sites and see how local history connects to the nation’s 250th anniversary.
