American History Awards Presented

            On Friday, January 29, our Brunswick Town Chapter presented awards to 5^th Grade Student, Lauren Elizabeth Schulte-Hock at a special award ceremony at Supply Elementary School.  Lauren was the 5^th Grade winner for Brunswick County in our annual American History Essay Contest.   Receiving a Certificate of Participation was Teo Ruiz.  This year, the topic for 5^th through 8^th graders centered on The Stamp Act, as the year, 2015 marked the 250^th anniversary of the Stamp Act. 

            Presenting Lauren with an American History medal, Certificates, and a cash award of fifty dollars, were Chapter Regent, Ms. Diane Kuebert, and Carol Hart, Co-Chair of the American History Committee.  Ms. Hart explained that the essays are read and judged by not only members of the American History Committee, but also by a retired teacher who is not a DAR member, and who has worked with her students in writing these essays.  The contest is open to all Brunswick County students in grades 5 – 12. 

            Ms. Kuebert explained that the Stamp Act was a new tax passed by the British Parliament.  It required all colonists to pay a tax on every printed piece of paper they used.  The Stamp Act was viewed by the colonists as “taxation without representation.”    Students were asked to describe a colonial family’s discussion about the new Stamp Act and what role it played on organizing the colonists against the British King and Parliament.  

Fifth grade students from the following schools participated in the contest this year:  Bolivia, Supply, Lincoln and Union Elementary.  Students from three other middle schools and West Brunswick High School also participated.  Our 8^th grade winner, Alexis Paige Turturici, also won for the District.  Our 11^th grade winner was Ashley Nicole Gibbs.  Winners for 8^th and 11^th grade will be celebrated at a Board of Education ceremony on May 3. 

Assisting Lauren in the development of the theme and research for her essay were teachers Ms. Jackie Brock, AIG (Academically and Intellectually Gifted) Teacher, and Ms. Lori Crabtree, 5^th Grade Social Studies Teacher.  Lauren is the daughter of Mark Hock and Dawn Schulte-Hock of Bolivia.  Writing her essay was a rewarding experience for this fifth grader, and I’m sure she will remember what the Stamp Act was all about!