The Archibald Bulloch Chapter National Society Daughters of the American Revolution held the 2018 DAR awards ceremony and presented a host of awards to local students. 

Olivia Edenfield, American History Committee chair, recognized the winners of the American History Essay contest sponsored by the chapter. 

“Reflecting on the topic ‘World War I: Remembering the War to End All Wars,’ students were encouraged to imagine that they were living in 1918, discussing the pros and cons of the changes to society that World War I introduced,” said Edenfield. “Students were asked to give their well-informed opinion on how those changes have impacted their lives.”

Fifth grade winners included Erin Shen, Julia P. Bryant, first place; Noah Streetman, Sallie Zetterower, second place; and Cedric Bacon, Sallie Zetterower, third place. 

Sixth grade winners were Elle Greeson, Bulloch Academy, first place; Mary Banks Garvin, Bulloch Academy, second place; and Camille Wall, Bulloch Academy, third place.

Winners from the seventh grade included Alex Vladescu, Bulloch Academy, first place; Katherine Whitlock, Bulloch Academy, second place; and Sophie Wall, Bulloch Academy, third place. 

Eighth grade essay winners were Katrina Hennessy, Bulloch Academy, first place; Cash Vickery, Bulloch Academy, second place; and Tressa Rountree, Bulloch Academy, third place.  

First place essay winners received a certificate, a bronze American History medal and a monetary prize. The second and third place winners received a certificate for outstanding work in American History. 

Martha Ray, National Defense Committee chair, recognized ROTC awards recipients. Distinctive medals are presented yearly by the chapter to outstanding Reserve Officer Training Corps participants in local high schools and the university. 

“These medals and campaign bars are given to a graduating senior, chosen by their commanding officer in consultation with their principal,” said Ray. “These students have demonstrated loyalty and patriotism toward their country and have earned a record of military and scholastic achievement.

ROTC students selected receive a DAR medal and campaign bar, as well as a cash award made possible by Citizen’s Bank of the South and the Metter branch of Synovus.

Awards were presented to Cadet Taylor Alexis Flanagan, Georgia Southern University, who was accompanied by Staff Sgt. Antwon Shade; Cadet Sheridan King, Statesboro High School; Cadet Christa-Mishay Ashlee Boykins, Metter High School, who was accompanied by Capt. Lee Sirmans; and Cadet Sydney Johns, Southeast Bulloch High School, who was accompanied by Maj. Jeffrey Odegaard. 

“Our country is blessed to have such young people ready and able to serve their community and their country during conflict and in peace,” said Ray.  

Diane Allen, Good Citizens Committee chair, presented winning Good Citizen students with a DAR Good Citizen pin and wallet card. The overall winner received a check for $100 and runners-up received a check for $50, provided by Farmers & Merchants Bank of Statesboro.

One senior from each of the Bulloch County Schools who exemplifies the qualities of dependability, service, leadership and patriotism was chosen. The selected students wrote an essay on the topic “Our 

American Heritage and Our Responsibility for Preserving It” in a prescribed time period without the assistance or use of reference materials. The students wrote specifically to answer the question, “How has America advanced the cause of freedom in the rest of the world?”

“There are disturbing events going on in our world right now, but I must say that with this tenuous political climate we live in, the young people we are honoring today make me feel an optimism that frankly these days is often very difficult to find,” said Allen.

Good citizens from the participating Bulloch County schools included Amonica Kirkland, Portal Middle/High School; Frannie Sanders, Southeast Bulloch High School; Smith Kaiser, Statesboro High School; Elizabeth Diamanduros, STEAM;  Jackson Paris, Trinity Christian; and Mattie Hendrix, Bulloch Academy. 

Smith Kaiser received the Bulloch County 2018 Good Citizen Award.