AUGUST 19, 2015
DAR seeks local students for Youth Contests
Scottsdale – Chartered Grand Canyon Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution seeks Scottsdale students for participation in three of the national society’s signature youth contests: the American History and Christopher Columbus essay contests and the Junior American Citizens. contest.
The DAR American History essay contest is open to students in grades 5, 6, 7 and 8 in public, private, parochial schools and registered home study programs. Deadline for chapter entries is January 6, 2016.
Grand Canyon Chapter DAR 2014 American History and Christopher Columbus essay contest winners at state and division levels: From l., Kathy Shields, chapter regent; Kamren Gilbard; Grace Taylor; Tommy Johnson and Betty Heenan, chapter American History committee chairman.The topic for the 2015-2016 contest is “A Colonial Family’s Reaction to the Stamp Act,” marking the 250th anniversary of the Stamp Act. One essay at each grade level is selected as the chapter winner and forwarded to the state American History chairman for state competition. In 2014 chapter winners in the 5th and 8th grades, Tommy Johnson of Adams Traditional School and Grace Taylor of Cocopah Middle School, won state awards and Tommy Johnson, 5th grade state winner, went on to win at the southwest division level.
DAR partnered with the National Italian American Foundation in 1996 to sponsor the Christopher Columbus essay contest for grades 9 through 12. The 2015-2016 contest title is “Columbus and Lindbergh: A Journey Across the Atlantic.” Deadline for chapter entries is December 15, 2015. The winning essay is submitted to the Arizona state American History chairman for judging. In 2014, chapter winner Kamren Gilbard of Chaparral High School captured the state award.
The Junior American Citizens Committee (JAC) is the DAR’s second oldest youth-oriented committee, preceded only by the Children of the American Revolution. The 2015-2016 JAC Ccontest theme is “Celebrate America” and is open to all pre-school through 12th grade students in public, private and parochial schools and sanctioned home study programs in gifted, general and special needs categories. The deadline for entries is December 12, 2015. According to chapter JAC committee co-chairman, Katie Paulsen, “Students should think of people, events, customs or traditions that influence America. Be creative and have fun!”
Junior American Citizens 2014 contest-winning banner from 3rd grade at Tonalea Elementary School, Scottsdale. The contest’s theme was “Focusing On Our Future.”For more information on DAR’s American History essay contests visit: dar.org/national-society/ education/essay-contests.
The chapter JAC committee has a Facebook page. Visit www.faceboook.com/groups/ScottsdaleJAC.
To learn more about the DAR contests and scholarships Grand Canyon chapter sponsors, go to grandcanyon.arizonadar.org/teacherparents.html.
For all contest entries at the chapter level, teachers and parents please contact chapter regent Kathy Shields at 602.820.5427 or [email protected].
