National Pike DAR honors local students
Participating in the DAR Good Citizen Award presentation are, from left, Abigail Faust, a senior at Trinity High School; Debra Ruffing, regent of the National Pike Chapter, DAR; Rachel Bayer, a senior at McGuffey High School; and Deborah Davis, honorary state regent.
Nancy Racunas, American History chairwoman of the National Pike Chapter, DAR, is shown with the winners of the DAR Excellence in American History Award, from left, Trinity Middle School seventh-graders Mack Matthews, Claudia Cappelli, Alexandra Koffler and Ethan Iams.
Patricia Stavovy, Junior American Citizens chapter chairwoman, is shown with the JAC contest winners, from left, Gianna Beichner, Rowan Curry, Gabrielle Leadbitter, Grace Coyle and Adele Zimmerman. All are sixth-graders at John F. Kennedy Elementary School.
Elysia Michaud, a senior at Trinity High School, receives the JROTC Award from Carol Crawford, vice regent of the National Pike DAR Chapter.
Barbara Lamay, past chapter regent, is shown with the DAR Youth Citizenship Award winners, from left, Luke Phillis, Ashley Durig, Lucinda Towers and Jillian Sander. All are eighth-graders at Trinity Middle School.
Junior American Citizens contest winner Taylor Dunn, a sixth-grader at John F. Kennedy Elementary School
Junior American Citizens contest winner Nicole Reasbeck, a sixth-grader at John F. Kennedy Elementary School
National Pike Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, recently presented awards in American History, Youth Citizenship, Good Citizen, Junior American Citizens and JROTC during a special ceremony at Faith United Presbyterian Church in Washington.
The chapter has annually honored local students from Trinity Middle School, John F. Kennedy Elementary School and Trinity and McGuffey high schools.
Using the theme “Our National Parks: 100 Years of Service to America,” students were asked to show the values held in these national treasures. Patricia Stavovy, chapter chairwoman for Junior American Citizens, said more than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America’s 408 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities.
This centennial commemorative year honors the National Park Service’s service to protect, preserve and share some of the nation’s natural resources, culture and history.
Students were judged on historical accuracy, adherence to topic, organization of material, interest, originality, grammar, spelling, punctuation and neatness.
Sixth-grade winners from John F. Kennedy Elementary School were:
• Banner, group entry – Gianna Beichner, Nicole Reasbeck and Gabrielle Leadbitter, who won first place in the local, state and Eastern Division competitions and placed third nationally.
• Photo essay – Rowan Curry, who won first place on the local and state levels.
• Poster – Adele Zimmerman, who placed first on the local level and second in the state.
• Stamp – Taylor Dunn, who won first place on the local and state levels.
• Poem – Nathaniel Poach, who captured first place in the local and state competitions.
• Short story – Grace Coyle, who won first place in the local, state and Eastern Division competitions and placed third nationally.
Trinity Middle School DAR Youth Citizenship winners were selected by teachers in the Trinity Middle School social studies department based on the DAR qualifications of honor, service, patriotism, courage and leadership as observed and evaluated by teachers. Barbara Heastings, past chapter regent, presented the eighth-grade winners, Ashley Durig, Luke Phillis, Lucinda Towers and Jillian Sander, with a medal and certificate.
Seventh-grade winners for Excellence in American History at Trinity Middle School were Claudia Cappelli, Ethan Iams, Mack Matthews and Alexander Koffler. American History winners were selected by teachers in the social studies department based on the DAR qualifications of academic achievement, motivation and personal interest in American history as observed and evaluated by the teachers. Linda Bergman, past chapter regent, presented the American History medals and certificates to the students.
DAR Good Citizen Award awards were presented by Deborah Davis, honorary state regent, to Abigail Faust, a senior at Trinity High School, and Rachel Rayer, a senor at McGuffey High School.
This year, an additional award was given through the National Defense committee. A Military Ball was held April 8 at the Hilton Garden Inn-Southpointe for Trinity High School JROTC students. National Pike Chapter awarded a bronze JROTC medal and certificate to senior Trinity High School Cadet Elysia Michaud at the ball.
Carol Crawford, chapter vice regent, presented Michaud with an additional gift at the awards ceremony, thanking her for her service to the United States. Michaud plans to enter the Navy.