dar essay contest 2020 winners

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American History Essay Contest

The American History Essay Contest was established to encourage young people to think creatively about our nation's great history and learn about history in a new light.

This contest is open to students in public, private, and parochial schools, and registered home-study programs. Students in grades five through eight are encouraged to participate. Each year, a selected topic for use during the academic year is announced, and contest instructions are published online and sent to schools by participating DAR chapters. Essays are judged for historical accuracy, adherence to the topic, organization of materials, interest, originality, spelling, grammar, punctuation, and neatness.

Participating chapters send one winning essay from each of the four grades for judging on the state level. The state will send one winning essay from each of the four grades to be judged on a divisional level. The winning essay from each of the four grades will then be judged on the national level and the winners are announced.

Each student participant receives a certificate of participation from the chapter and the chapter winners receive bronze medals and certificates. State winners receive certificates and silver medals. National winners receive special certificates, medals, and a monetary award.

Click here for an informational PDF handout . For additional contest information or guidelines, please contact your local DAR chapter .

Patriots of the American Revolution High School Essay Contest

In preparation for the 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding, the DAR has launched the "Patriots of the American Revolution DAR High School Essay Contest.” This contest will focus on the men and women who figured in the events of the American Revolution (1773 – 1783), and it is hoped that students will find Patriots to write about who will interest and inspire them.

These Patriots may be one of our famous Founders, or an everyday man, woman, or child who supported the American Revolution in ways both large and small.  Students will be asked to discuss how their chosen Patriot contributed to the founding of the nation. Essays will be judged for historical accuracy, organization of materials, interest, originality, spelling, grammar, punctuation, and the quality and scope of references, particularly the use of primary sources.

This contest is open to students in public, private, and parochial schools, and registered home-study programs, in grades 9 through 12. Essays from students from all grades will be judged together, with one winning essay chosen at each level. Participating DAR Chapters will select one essay as the chapter winner, to be sent on to the State level; the State will select one essay winner to represent the state for judging at the Division level, and each Division level will also have one winner which will be sent on to the National contest. Each student participant receives a certificate of participation from the chapter and the chapter winners receive a bronze medal and certificate set. State winners receive a silver medal and certificate set. Division level winners receive certificates and a book. National winners receive special certificates, medals, and a monetary award.

The National Society will select first-, second- and third-place winners. The national winner will receive a National Winner Certificate, pin and monetary award, presented at NSDAR’s annual Continental Congress, and the winning essay may appear in official DAR communications. National second- and third-place winners will also receive a certificate and monetary award.

This essay contest is being launched to engage students during the 250 th anniversary of the American Revolution, and is designed to encourage students to think more about the many different people, known and unknown, who were a part of the American Revolution, and perhaps even see themselves in the figures they write about.

For additional contest information or guidelines, please contact your  local DAR chapter .

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Meet this Year's American History Essay Winners

The American History Essay Contest welcomes essays from students in grades 5 through 8, all centered on a theme that changes annually, often to commemorate the anniversary of an important event. The 2021-2022 American History Essay Contest commemorates the 100th anniversary of the dedication of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the Arlington National Cemetery. This monument was dedicated on Armistice Day in 1921, with a ceremony led by President Harding.

In their essays, students were asked to write from the perspective of a young person whose brother had lost his life in The Great War, and who had traveled to Arlington National Cemetery to be present with their family at the dedication. Students wrote about what this even meant to them and why they believed remembering those who gave their lives for our country is so important. 

This year, over 23,000 students entered the American History Essay Contest, from all 50 states. The Southeast Division was particularly active, with over 8,800 students participating, and the South Central and East Central divisions were also active with over 3,700 and 3,500 students participating, respectively. Chapters, states and divisions gathered the entries and enlisted a variety of distinguished judges to read and rank the essays. Winners from each level are forwarded to the next level. This committee wishes to thank the enthusiastic involvement of so many chapters across the country and in the Units Overseas.

The winners are:

First place

Elizabeth “Mei-Mei” Payne, a 5th grader from Kansas City, Missouri, who was sponsored by the Mission Hill Chapter in Kansas.

Catherine Hogan, a 6th reader from Farmington, CT, sponsored by the Abigail Phelps Chapter in Connecticut.

Lana Chan, a 7th grader from Cottonwood Heights, UT, sponsored by the Uintah Chapter. in Utah.

Alaina Voeller, an 8th grader from Newberg, Oregon, sponsored by the Yamhill Chapter in Oregon.

Second place

Abigail Lilly, a 5th grader from Marshall, North Carolina, sponsored by the Rebecca Sevier Waddel Chapter in North Carolina.

Ainsley Voeller, a 6th grader from Newburg, Oregon, sponsored by the Yamhill Chapter in Oregon.

Isadora Nassa, a 7th grader from Riverside, Connecticut, sponsored by the Putnam Hill Chapter in Connecticut.

Savannah Clingan, an 8th grader from Hays, Kansas, sponsored by the Courtney Spalding Chapter in Kansas.

Third place

Sophia Thompson, a 5th grader from Meridien, Idaho, sponsored by the Ee-dah-how Chapter in Idaho.

Mathias Mayo-Hostetter, a 6th grader from Los Angeles, California, sponsored by the Beverly Hills Chapter in California.

Phoebe Turner, a 7th grader from Kelly, Wyoming, sponsored by the Davey Jackson Chapter in Wyoming.

Sam Longhurst, an 8th grader from Lehi, Utah, sponsored by the Wasatch Range Chapter in Utah.

The first place winners from each grade will be presented with a pin, certificate and monetary award on stage at the Education Awards Night during Continental Congress. The second and third place winners will receive a certificate and monetary award. The National First Place Winners’ essays will be on display in the Americana Room during Continental Congress.

This committee is also delighted to see a number of familiar names: students who have entered in the past have entered again, and sets of siblings, both who have entered in their respective grade levels this year, and siblings who have entered over the past few years. We can see that students do enjoy this contest and look forward to writing essays again, and we thank all the chapters across the country and from Units Overseas for promoting this contest and making it such a successful way to reach out to our local communities!

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DAR American History Essay Contest Winner is Announced

Browne Academy seventh grade class with Alissa Kharkar, History teacher; Beth Holst, Regent of Anna Maria Fitzhugh Chapter; and Dr. Anita Frevert, Chair of American History Committee. Photo contributed

Thursday, January 23, 2020

Photo contributed

United States Air Force Senior Master Sergeant Barr and Mrs. Barr with their son David Glover-Barr, winner of the DAR American History Bronze medal and certificate. David is a seventh grade student at the Browne Academy in Alexandria.

Each year, the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) conducts an American History Essay Contest which is open to all fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth grade students in public, private, parochial schools and homeschoolers. The title this year was “The Voyage of the Mayflower,” whose 400th anniversary is commemorated this year. Students were asked to imagine being a passenger on the Mayflower in 1620, and to consider what they would take to prepare for the voyage and a new life in the wilderness.

Anna Maria Fitzhugh Chapter of Springfield was pleased to have the participation of the seventh grade class at the Browne Academy in Alexandria. On Jan. 14, 2020, all of the students received a participation certificate. The winner of the essay contest was David Glover-Barr who received the DAR American History Bronze Medal and winner’s certificate.

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Dar essay contest winners.

• By Tom Tingerthal
• March 12, 2020

The winners of the Daughters of the American Revolution Essay Contests were recently announced.  The Olive Prindle Chapter announced the American History Essay Contest include: Jacey Hall, daughter of Tara Hall, a 5th grader from Southwest School, Sadie Bonderer, daughter of Doug Bonderer and Jodi Baily, a 7th grader from Bishop Hogan School,  Carson Samm, son of Scottie and Grayson Samm and Cheryl and Jonathan Cooper, an 8th grader at Bishop Hogan School and Anna Pfaff, daughter of Justin and Jill Pfaff, a 7th grader at Bishop Hogan School.  Bonderer and Pfaff were also winners at the state level and their essays were forwarded to the Region contest.

Mauanna Weed, a Junior at the Chillicothe High School was the winner of the Christopher Columbus Essay Contest.  Weed is the daughter of Frank and Denise Weed.

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Winners of darien's dar american history essay contest announced, students were asked to write an essay on john philip sousa's song "the stars and stripes forever.".

Richard Kaufman , Patch Staff

Information via Darien’s Good Wife’s River Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution

DARIEN, CT — Darien’s Good Wife’s River Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution recently held an American history essay contest, and the winners have been announced.

Kalel Attonito, a fifth grader at Hindley School, won first place, and Ox Ridge student Caroline Hill placed second. Third place was won by Maya Raman from Royle School.

Find out what's happening in Darien with free, real-time updates from Patch.

Students were honored by the DAR Chapter Essay Contest Chairman Sandi MacPherson and DAR Regent Karen K. Polett, along with many local chapter members at the Noroton Presbyterian Church.

Winners received an NSDAR Certificate signed by the president general and a gift certificate to Barrett Bookstore donated by owner Sheila Daley.

The students were asked to imagine they were a newspaper reporter for The Philadelphia Times on May 14, 1897, when John Philip Sousa first played his new march, "The Stars and Stripes Forever." This song would become the national march of the United States on Dec. 11, 1987.

The essay needed to give information about Sousa's life and the story behind the song. The students were instructed to write the essay after the first performance and give their thoughts on the music and how the audience reacted.

Attonito's winning essay has been sent to the Connecticut State DAR where it will compete with other winning essays from throughout the state.

The CT winner will go on to the Division round, then to the National Society DAR in Washington, D.C.

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DAR honors local essay winners

The Lt. George Farragut Chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution is proud to recognize two local students [and siblings] as DAR essay contest winners.

Students in fifth through eighth grades were invited to write about the voyage of the Mayflower, while high school students were tasked with writing about a sailor’s experiences as part of Christopher Columbus’s first expedition to the Americas.

Fifth-grader Delaney Jensen, a homeschooler, was selected as the American History chapter winner for her essay written from the perspective of being a child on board the Mayflower. Delaney also placed first in the Idaho state and Northwest division competitions. Her essay has now advanced to the national level competition.

Wyatt Jensen, a ninth-grade homeschooler, was selected as the chapter winner of the Christopher Columbus essay contest. Wyatt wrote of telling his firsthand experience as part of Columbus’s crew to a spellbound group gathered at an inn after the voyage.

“Historic preservation and education are part of the DAR’s mission statement,” said Lt. George Farragut Chapter Historian Kim Brown. “Our ancestors survived uncharted courses as they survived voyages on sailboats in the time of the Mayflower and Christopher Columbus. Delaney and Wyatt Jensen utilized a variety of sources to write a narrative. They brought their research and writing skills to a new level and have achieved a very special educational experience. In reading and submitting their essays to further competition, we have been inspired by their efforts. We encourage all students to take advantage of these opportunities.”

Both contests are open to students in public, private or parochial schools, and those who are homeschooled. Essays are judged for historical accuracy, adherence to the topic, organization, interest, originality, spelling, grammar, punctuation and neatness.

Topics for the 2020-2021 contests will be announced in August and will be posted on the chapter website at ltgeorgefarragut.weeby.com.

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Elbridge gerry dar holds patriotic program to honor essay contest winners.

The Elbridge Gerry Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution held their annual patriotic program to honor area youth. They honor students that they sponsor in the DAR Good Citizens program and American History Essay contest. The program was held on Saturday, Feb. 8, at the Sterling Public Library at 10 a.m. Attending were the winning students, their family members, teachers, counselors and judges.

Patty Ament, a longstanding member of the chapter, welcomed everyone and led them in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States. She explained that DAR was founded in 1890 and that it is a non-profit, non-political volunteer women’s service organization dedicated to promoting patriotism, preserving American history and securing America’s future through better education for children. Any woman 18 years or older regardless of race, religion or ethnic background that can prove lineal descent from a patriot of the American Revolution is eligible for membership. There are presently 47 chapters in Colorado with over 3,000 chapters across the United States and internationally. DAR defines a patriot as one who provided service or direct assistance in achieving America’s independence. Some examples of patriotic service would be rendering aid by furnishing supplies, lending money to the Colonies, gunsmiths, nurses, ministers and many other acceptable services.

Among our communities DAR chapters participate in restoring and maintaining historical sites, preserving genealogical records, locating and restoring the marking of Revolutionary War patriot gravesites and headstones, supporting schools through donations and volunteer efforts, providing scholarships and awards to outstanding students throughout the country, promoting education and citizenship through youth programs, sponsoring American history essay contests for youth, providing volunteer time to assist military veterans, supporting American’s service personnel through a variety of programs, sponsoring special programs promoting the Constitution and celebrating with new citizens at naturalization ceremonies.

It was for the promotion of education and citizenship youth programs that the chapter gathered for the patriotic program. The DAR Good Citizen topic this year was “Our American Heritage and Our Responsibility for Preserving It”. The focus question was, “You and your peers are our nation’s leader of tomorrow. How would you energize America’s youth to fully engage as effective citizens?” This year there was five schools that submitted entries, which are for senior students that are selected by their respective school to participate. The following are the winners and their school that they attend: Navaeh Nikole Becker from Caliche High School, Lauren Grace Fritzler from Merino High School, Ethan Victor Ramey from Peetz High School, Darcy Jean Trump from Sterling High School and MaKayla Kay Baker from Prairie High School. The students attending were asked to introduce their guests, tell about their future plans after high school and to read their essay. They were then presented their award packet, including a monetary award. The chairman of the DAR Good Citizen is Linda Griess. The student that was selected by three non-DAR judges to be entered to the Colorado state competition was Darcy Trump from Sterling High School. They are judged on dependability, service, leadership and patriotism and have also made a significant contribution to their community through volunteerism, academics and activities.

The American History Essay contest is open to fifth through eighth grade students. This year’s topic was “The Voyage of the Mayflower.” There were 55 essays submitted this year from three different area schools. The students were asked to introduce their guests and to read their essay and then were presented their award packet including a bronze medal. All participants are awarded a participation certificate and flag code. The essays are judged by three judges and the winning essays are submitted to Colorado state for further competition. They are judged on completion of a title page, bibliography, grammar, spelling, historical correction and interest and word count. The chapter chairman is Loretta Maxwell. The following are the winners and their respective schools: sixth grade winner was Lilly Jade Lemesany from Fleming School, seventh grade winner was Braylon David Bruns from Caliche School and eighth grade winner was Jaelynne Steimer from Sterling Middle School.

Light refreshments were served and the judges that were present were acknowledged and given a token of appreciation for their participation.

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