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DAR announces American History Essay Contest

Students enrolled in fifth through eighth grades are invited to enter the 2023-2024 American History Essay Contest sponsored by the Barrington-based Signal Hill Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR). The contest reflects the organization's values of historic preservation, education, and patriotism by inviting students to think and write creatively about historic U.S. events, specifically those related to the American Revolution.

This year's essay topic is as follows:

On May 14, 1897, John Phillip Sousa played his new march, "The Stars and Stripes Forever." This song would become the national march of the United States on Dec. 11, 1987. Imagine it is 1897, and you are a newspaper reporter for The Philadelphia Times. Your newspaper editor has asked you to write an article about the song being performed that day. Your article needs to tell us about Sousa's life and the story behind the song. It is the first performance of the song, so make sure your article includes your thoughts about the music and how the audience reacts to what is seen and heard that day.

Depending on the student's age group, essays may be 300 to 1,000 words. All grade five, six, seven and eight students in a public, private or parochial school, or those who are home schooled, are eligible to participate. One essay at each grade level will be selected as the Signal Hill Chapter winner. All winners will be recognized at a DAR Youth Awards event, hosted by the Signal Hill Chapter in early 2024. Winners will go forward in competition with the potential for a national award. Essays must be submitted by Friday, Nov. 10, 2023.

For information about the essay contest and its requirements, contact Signal Hill Historian Kat Nosal, via email at [email protected].

The Signal Hill Chapter, NSDAR, was chartered 50 years ago in Barrington, in 1972. NSDAR is a volunteer women's service organization headquartered in Washington, D.C.

Due to fund-raising efforts throughout the year, the chapter contributes financially to several 501 (c) (3) organizations whose missions support that of NSDAR.

NSDAR provides more than $1.5 million in scholarships annually. It is the largest group of participants in support of Wreaths Across America. Through its various programs and initiatives, NSDAR strives to increase the awareness of men and women who achieved American independence, including those of diverse backgrounds.

Since its founding in 1890, over one million women have joined both nationally and around the world. Membership in NSDAR is open to any woman, aged 18 and over, who can prove lineal descent from a patriot of the American Revolution.

For information about the Barrington-based chapter, visit: signalhilldar.com .

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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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Since its founding in 1890, the Daughters of the American Revolution has promoted historic preservation, education and patriotism in communities across the nation. From essay contests to educational materials to youth programs, scholarships, and awards, DAR has something to offer to every community. All students are invited to participate and learn more about the educational programs the DAR offers.

Downloadable informational handouts are provided below and can be used for DAR chapters to take to their local schools and for educators to learn more about the programs. Local chapters can provide more detailed information about the programs in their specific communities.

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DAR Announces Winners of American History and Patriots of the American Revolution Contests

Posted by Paso Robles Press | Mar 2, 2023

Three local Students are winners if the annual contests

PASO ROBLES — The El Paso de Robles Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR) has announced the winners of the American History and the Patriots of the American Revolution essay contests for 2022. 

The American History essay contest is open to students in the 5th through 8th grades in all accredited schools in North County. The topic of the American History contest this year was “Imagine that you are a delegate during the 1775-1776 Second Continental Congress. Which colony are you from and what will be important for you to accomplish for your colony?” 

The entries are judged by grade level. The winners of the contest are:

• 6th grade: Matilda Meacham, daughter of Kimberly and Stacey Meacham, who attends St. Rose Catholic School in Paso Robles
• 8th grade: Pearl Ojeda, daughter of Joanne and Jesus Ojeda, who attends Templeton Hills Seventh Day Adventist School in Templeton. Matilda also won the District VII award for 6th graders.

The Patriots of the American Revolution essay contest is open to students in the 9th through 12th grades. Only one winner is selected. This year’s topic was “select a figure from the era of the American Revolution (1773-1783). Discuss how he or she influenced the course of the American Revolution, who he or she was and his/her contribution to the founding of s new nation.”  

This year’s winner was Katherine Nicholson, daughter of Jed and Cynthia Nicholson, a 9th-grade student at Templeton High School. Katherine also won the District VII award. 

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The study will follow the biological and behavioral development of more than 10,000 children through adolescence into early adulthood.

June 22, 2016 • Science Update

A computer game that changes a tendency to misread ambiguous faces as angry is showing promise as a potential treatment for irritability in children

May 5, 2016 • Live Chat

A live Twitter chat discussing the symptoms and treatments for disruptive mood dysregulation disorder and severe irritability.

March 14, 2016 • Press Release

Students explore the brain with NIH scientists in celebration of Brain Awareness Week (March 14-18, 2016).

February 26, 2016 • Science Update

Three types of symptoms emerged as powerful predictors of whether a youth with one parent with bipolar disorder will go on to develop the disorder, according to a new NIMH-funded study of 391 at-risk youth.

October 29, 2015 • Science Update

On October 16, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced support for a new treatment for first episode psychosis called coordinated specialty care (CSC). This decision means more clinics may be able to offer CSC and it may become more readily available.

October 21, 2015 • Live Chat

Twitter chat on the symptoms, treatments, and research on sports-related head injury and cognitive decline.

October 20, 2015 • Press Release

New research shows that a team-based, coordinated specialty care treatment plan produces better outcomes than typical community care for people with first episode psychosis. Investigators also found that treatment is most effective for people who receive care soon after psychotic symptoms begin.

September 29, 2015 • Live Chat

Learn about the signs, symptoms, and treatments for pediatric bipolar disorder during a Twitter chat with NIMH expert Dr. Ken Towbin on October 8. #NIMHchats

August 26, 2015 • Science Update

New York expanded OnTrackNY, a treatment program for youth with psychosis which is an offshoot of one of the two NIMH-funded Recovery After an Initial Schizophrenia Episode (RAISE) studies.

July 16, 2015 • Press Release

James McPartland, Ph.D. of Yale University will lead a new four-year $28 million Biomarkers Consortium project that aims to improve clinical evaluation of treatments for social impairment in children with autism.

July 1, 2015 • Press Release

Boys are more likely than girls to receive an antipsychotic prescription regardless of age, according to a new study published in JAMA Psychiatry.

April 17, 2015 • Live Chat

NIMH Google+ Hangout on First-Episode Psychosis

September 23, 2014 • Science Update

A new study will develop and test a personalized, computer-based suicide risk screening tool to help ERs identify troubled teenagers.

April 21, 2014 • Science Update

NIMH Twitter Chat on Autism Spectrum Disorder Diagnosis

April 14, 2014 • Science Update

NIMH expert Dr. Jay Giedd will discuss the developing adolescent brain at a community event on May 8. The event will be video archived.

March 26, 2014 • Press Release

The architecture of the autistic brain is speckled with patches of abnormal neurons, according to research partially funded by the National Institute of Mental Health, published in the New England Journal of Medicine on March 27, 2014.

March 18, 2014 • Science Update

NIMH scientists presented hands-on demonstrations of neural electrical activity at the National Museum of Health and Medicine Brain Awareness Week program, March 12, 2014.

February 21, 2014 • Science Update

NIMH Twitter Chat on Eating Disorders

January 13, 2014 • Science Update

Join the 2014 Drug Facts Chat Day