L to R: Kourtney Nicole Gore from West Brunswick High School. & Alexia Brooke Shank from North Brunswick High School; missing from photo Mackensie Pless, from South Brunswick High School
Each year the Brunswick Town Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution present awards to high school seniors who meet the criteria to receive the prestigious “Good Citizen Award.” The students who are selected must have the following qualities: dependability, which includes truthfulness, loyalty, and punctuality; leadership indicating cooperation, self-control, ability to assume responsibility; and patriotism demonstrating service and an unselfish interest in family, school, community and nation.
DAR Good Citizen Chair, Pat Gooding presented awards to three outstanding students from West, North and South Brunswick High Schools at the April 13th DAR meeting held at the Atlantic Seafood & Steak Restaurant in Southport, NC.
The DAR Good Citizens Scholarship Contest consists of two parts. Part I students describe how they have achieved being a good citizen. This part is submitted with a copy of an official grade transcript and two letters of recommendation. High School activities and areas of special interest, as well as how their efforts to serve their community have been effective or have made a difference are included. They must submit future plans, education and career goals as well as aspirations in life. The contestants must include extracurricular activities. They must explain why they feel the four qualities of a DAR Good Citizen; Dependability, Service, Leadership and Patriotism are important and how they have tried to exhibit those qualities in their life and in their relationships with others. Part II is an essay written during a two hour session without the use of any reference materials. This year’s topic was “Our American Heritage and Our Responsibility for preserving it: What is the Greatest Challenge We Face in America Today?”
The instructions for the essay state that the essay must be written in the presence of a faculty member or DAR member within a two-hour time limit. Each school elected to have a school counselor preside over writing of the essay. The title of the essay is not revealed to the student until that time. The essay is to be no longer than 500 words in length and be hand written. No reference materials are allowed to be used. Neatness, legibility, originality and historical accuracy are considered during the judging.
Judging took place in January. The judges were 3 former school teachers, one of which is a former DAR Good Citizen. Students from West Brunswick and North Brunswick attended our April meeting to receive their DAR Good Citizen certificates and pins. Each student will also receive a $100 savings bond.
The three seniors who were chosen the “DAR Good Citizen” were Kourtney Gore from West Brunswick High School. Mackensie Pless, from South Brunswick High School. and Alexia Shank from North Brunswick High School.
Kourtney Gore’s volunteer experiences Include: organization of several community service projects. Her extracurricular actives include: Student Government Association, National Honor Society, Mrs. West Brunswick Superlative, Homecoming Princess, yearbook editor, All-0Country Chorus and softball.
Mackensie Pless’s volunteer experiences include: church activities, historical reenactments, service clubs and artistic events. Her extracurricular activities include: high school band, Student Government Association, National Honor Society, Brunswick County Teen Court, National Art Honor Society, International Studies Club, North Carolina Governor’s School, Invisible Children Organization. Go to www.invisiblechildren.com for information on the organization.
The student selected to have the application and essay sent to the District IX competition was Alexia Shank, a student from North Brunswick High School. Her volunteer experiences include: Stuff the Bus, the blood drive, nursing home volunteer, volleyball, cheerleading, study abroad.
Extracurricular Activities include Key Club, Student Government, National and French Honor Societies, prom committee, tutoring, TIME (Tobacco is My Enemy), yearbook business manager and homecoming court.
The judging took place in January. The judges were 3 former school teachers, one was a former DAR Good Citizen. Each of these students attended the April meeting to read their essays. At that time they were presented with their DAR Good Citizen certificates and pins. They will also receive a $100 savings bond at the end of the second semester.
