DAR Honors Good Citizens for 2023 – The Stanly News & Press

The Yadkin River Patriots chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution recognized seven high school students as good DAR citizens during the Nov. 17 DAR meeting at the Stanly County Family YMCA Pavilion.

Regent Joan Eudy of the Yadkin River Patriots Chapter welcomed students, family members, guidance counselors and other school representatives. Everyone was invited to join the DAR chapter members for refreshments and to hear the students read their essays.

This year’s DAR Good Citizens are Mattie Grace Story, North Stanly High School; Mark Allan Lappin, Gray Stone Day School; Rylee Jayna Klinger, Stanly Stem Early College; Kiersten Renae Hollis, South Stanly High School; Kaelynn Sue Guyette, West Stanly High School; Marian Garcia-Hernandez, Albemarle High School; and Callie Jo Ball, Stanly Early College.

Pat Bramlett, Chair of the DAR Good Citizen Committee, with assistance from Sandy Rogers, presented each DAR Good Citizen with a framed and personalized DAR Good Citizen certificate, a DAR Good Citizen pin, a chart explaining the meaning of the pin and a wallet card.

Callie Jo Ball, a student at Stanly Early College, was recognized as the DAR Local chapter’s winning DAR Good Citizen for 2023. She received a $100 check from the DAR Local chapter and will advance to the district level of competition .

Stanly Early College student Callie Jo Ball won the Yadkin River Patriots’ 2023 DAR Good Citizen Award. (Contributed)

The DAR Good Citizens program and essay competition aim to encourage and reward qualities of good citizenship. The program is open to high school students. One student per high school is recognized each year.

The DAR scholarship program consists of two parts.

Part I Personnel includes: (a) a listing of the student’s participation in high school activities, positions held, awards received, and areas of special interest; b) a description of the service provided to their community (home, school, place of worship); c) future plans, educational and professional goals and life aspirations; d) extracurricular activities, after-school or summer jobs, hobbies, etc.; and e) a description of how they demonstrated the qualities of a good citizen in four areas: trustworthiness, service, leadership and patriotism. A copy of their transcript and two letters of recommendation are also required.

Part II is a timed essay that must be written by the student in one session under the supervision of a faculty member. The essay cannot exceed 550 words and must be completed within two hours without assistance. A dictionary is the only authorized reference document. Students have no prior knowledge of the writing prompt.

The title of the essay for 2023 was “Our American Heritage and Our Responsibility to Preserve It.” This year’s central question was: “What are the civic responsibilities of a good citizen, and why are these duties, activities, and behaviors important in shaping the America you hope to experience?” »

The essays and other materials are all submitted to non-DAR judges who independently evaluate students’ descriptions of their qualities as good citizens and how they approached the essay topic. The judge’s scoring is done using forms provided by the National Society of the DAR.

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Callie Jo Ball’s winning essay appears below:

Essay Title: “Our American Heritage and Our Responsibility to Preserve It.” »

Central Question: “What are the civic responsibilities of a good citizen and why are these duties, activities, and behaviors important in shaping the America you hope to experience?” »

In a modern world where civic responsibilities and responsibilities in general seem to be diminishing, it is essential that all of us, as members of our society, embrace the traits of a good citizen. We may ask, “What are these traits?” » Well, the traits of a good citizen are trustworthiness, service, leadership and patriotism. It is of the utmost importance to the success of our culture that we embody all of these traits.

A good citizen must above all be an honest citizen; whether by observing the rules of the road, helping your church, running for office, voting for the leaders of our cities/states/nations, or simply teaching our children the difference between right and wrong. In a time where technology is rapidly advancing and the new generation is radically moving away from our heritage, we must find a way to bring them back to the history of our great nation.

From 1776 to 2023 today, we have moved away from the reason our ancestors came to America. We have forgotten that they came here for freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, the right to democracy, to have a say on the problems facing their society and to improve their life and that of their family. The Pilgrims endured a perilous journey across the vast ocean aboard the Mayflower (and others), a wooden ship that, if leaked, could have plunged them to the fathoms below; not to mention the challenges of cleanliness, health and nutrition. All this for the rights with which we were born in our current society.

Today we can protest freely and say what we believe without fear of imprisonment or death. Nowadays we can just drive to the nearest store and buy over-the-counter medicines, fresh fruits/vegetables/meats and wool coats for the winter, whereas it might take a year or more before even winning any. wool to make a coat or to grow vegetables to feed your family throughout the winter. It is important to keep this in mind; Moreover, if we commit to holding ourselves accountable for the betterment of our society, we will succeed in restoring it to its former glory.

We must strive to preserve the qualities of a good citizen for these reasons, but above all because we must protect our society for future generations. Not to mention, embodying these traits will help shape the America I want to experience during my time here on earth. By being an active member of our communities, we can truly make a difference.

Coming back to civic responsibilities, I believe that if everyone takes matters into their own hands and votes and/or runs for office, strives to maintain healthy relationships with family and friends, takes the time to teach his children how to be good citizens, expresses his opinions without denigrating the government and the choices that are made and strives to enforce the laws and regulations that are put in place, even when we do not agree, then our nation will not only have a chance of survival, but it will soar like a mighty eagle freed from the chains that a stagnant member of society can impose on us.