Four students honored as DAR Good Citizens
The Hot Springs of Arkansas Chapter honored Four DAR Good Citizens this year with an award ceremony, monetary gifts for college, certificates and pins.
The students are Grace Anne Fortner, of Lakeside High School; Coda Skye Bushey, of Malvern High School; Dakota Reid, of Magnet Cove High School; and Butch Taylor Jr., of Hot Springs World Class High School.
All four of the high school seniors were elected by their schools “for this prestigious honor,” a news release said. “The staff and fellow students believed that their outstanding senior met the qualifications of a DAR Good Citizen. Those qualifications were exhibited through their leadership, trustworthiness, responsibility, dependability, patriotism, and service during school as well as activities in the community.”
Once they were selected as a DAR Good Citizen, the students had to complete part one of the DAR Good Citizens Scholarship application. “This portion of the application contained their beliefs in good character and examples of how they exhibited those qualities daily. The application also contained their high school transcripts, accomplishments, as well as two letters of recommendation. Their high school guidance counselors and teachers gave them glowing acknowledgments of how hard working and goal driven they are as well as their good moral character,” the release said.
The four students all chose to write an impromptu optional essay in the second portion of the scholarship application. There was a two-hour time limit, and they could not use any resource materials during their authorship. The focus question was not known by these seniors until the moment they sat down to create an essay not to exceed 550 words. This year the topic was “Our American Heritage and Our Responsibility for Preserving It: How Will the Essential Actions of a Good Citizen (dependability, service, leadership, patriotism) Meet the Challenges that America Faces in This Decade?”
“The essays showed their opinions, beliefs, and historical support of the topic question,” the release said. NON-DAR judges were asked to grade both parts of the scholarship applications. Grammar, spelling, punctuation, and accurate historical relevance of the topic question counted 30 points. The part one portion was graded on their achievements and beliefs with the highest score of 70 points.
“They did not have to write the essay to be a DAR Good Citizen winner of their schools. The essay gave them a chance of winning an entry into the state competition level and hopefully continued into the NSDAR National Level,” the release said.
Bushey’s DAR Good Citizens Scholarship Application was graded the highest and was sent to compete at the state level.
For more information about NSDAR programs and scholarships, call the Hot Springs of Arkansas Chapter’s Regent and DAR Good Citizen chair, Martha Koon, at 501-282-4973.