Local junior high students place in DAR’s American History Essay Contest

Post date: Mar 23, 2021 12:40:9 PM

The Old York Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution recently announced the winners of the 2020-2021 DAR American History Essay Contest. Six students from Wells Junior High School and one student from Noble Junior High School placed in the contest.

According to the national DAR website (dar.org), “The American History Essay Contest (created in 1956) was established to encourage young people to think creatively about our nation's great history and learn about history in a new light,” … “Essays are judged for historical accuracy, adherence to the topic, organization of materials, interest, originality, spelling, grammar, punctuation, and neatness.”

The Old York Chapter’s American History Chair Mrs. Barbara Carmone indicated that those who entered were required to write on the topic of the Boston Massacre, a pre-American Revolution confrontation between British soldiers and colonists. “Students were to imagine they were living in Boston and after witnessing the events of March 5, 1770, describe their family discussions about the Boston Massacre and what role it played in organizing the colonists against the British King and Parliament,” noted Carmone.

Those who placed include: Elana Michele Vennard of WJHS, First-Place 8th Grade Chapter Winner and Third-Place Maine State DAR 8th Grade Winner; Maren Robinson of Noble High School in North Berwick, Second-Place 8th Grade Chapter Winner; London Chadwick of WJHS, First-Place 6th Grade Chapter Winner and Third-Place Maine State DAR 6th Grade Winner; Saoirse Carrigan and Hailey Ann Worthing from WJHS tied, making both Second-Place 6th Grade Chapter Winners; Mason Colbeth, of WJHS, First-Place 5th Grade Chapter Winner and Second-Place Maine State DAR 5th Grade Winner and Deanna Ferris, of WJHS, Second-Place 5th grade Chapter Winner. Fourteen WJHS students, (four 5th graders, five 6th graders, and five 8th graders) entered the contest this year.

“The winners, as well as the essayists who did not make it to the winners' circle, did an exceptional job capturing this tragic and momentous event through their use of fascinating characters and strong emotion,” commented Carmone. Later this spring these students will be honored by the Old York Chapter. At that time all contest participants will be presented with certificates and gifts.

Apart from the junior high essay contest, DAR also recognizes good citizenship in high school seniors with the DAR Good Citizens Award and Scholarship Contest created to “encourage and reward the qualities of good citizenship.” This year WHS senior and vice president of her class, Kate Pinette was among three to receive the DAR Good Citizens Award from the Old York Chapter. Those that receive this honor have demonstrated the qualities of dependability, service, leadership and patriotism.

The Daughters of the American Revolution is a women’s lineage and service organization for women 18 years and older who can prove lineal descent from a patriot of the American Revolution. The Old York Chapter in York currently has 67 members. There also exists a National Society Sons of the American Revolution organization.

Top row, left to right : Deanna Ferris (WJHS Gr.5) ; Adina Hunter, Teacher at Noble (with), Maren Robinson (Gr. 8 Noble High School), and Hailey Worthing (WJHS Gr. 6).

Bottom row, left to right: Mason Colbeth (WJHS Gr. 5) London Chadwick (WJHS Gr. 6) Saoirse Carrigan ( WJHS Gr. 6) and Elana Vennard (WJHS Gr. 8). This image attached is provided courtesy of Barbara Carmone of the Old York Chapter of DAR.