First published in the April 7 print issue of the Pasadena Outlook.
The Martin Severance chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution recently held its annual awards breakfast at the Church of the Angels’ parish hall to honor local middle school and high school students.
The MSDAR American History Committee established the annual American history essay contest to encourage middle school students to think creatively about America’s great history and engage with it in a personal way.
Each academic year, this committee selects an essay topic, with this year’s topic being the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier to commemorate the centenary of its dedication.
A three-person panel evaluated all essays. Three students were honored at both the chapter and district (San Gabriel Valley) levels: Damien Ambuul, 5th grade, St. Monica Academy; and Natalie Grimm, 7th grade, and Frederick Grimm, 8th grade, both from Christ the King Home School. The students read their essays to those in attendance.
The DAR Good Citizen Award is given annually to outstanding high school seniors who are selected by the faculty and administration of their schools. These students have made a notable contributions to their schools and community as well as demonstrated the qualities of dependability, service, leadership and patriotism.
The chapter honored six Good Citizen Award Winners: Richelle Studer, Alverno Heights Academy; Mariana Salcedo, Blair High School; Cecilia Grané, Marshall Fundamental High School; Sade Anderson, Muir High School; Zoe Williams, Pasadena High School; and Lucy Brady, St. Monica Academy.
NSDAR is a nonprofit, nonpolitical women’s volunteer organization dedicated to promoting patriotism, preserving American history and securing America’s future through better education for children.
The Martin Severance chapter, based in Pasadena, was established in 1914 and is open to any woman 18 years or older regardless of race, religion or ethnic background who can prove lineal descent from a patriot of the American Revolution.
For more information, contact Leslie McClure, regent, at martin.severance.dar@gmail.com.
