The DAR Good Citizens Committee Recognizes Local and National Winners

The DAR Good Citizens Committee honors a senior student in a public or private high school who best exemplifies the characteristics of leadership, service, dependability and patriotism. This year 6,134 students were recognized by chapters across the country and one student was recognized by the Palatinate Chapter, Germany. Monetary awards of $467,818 were given by the chapters and states.  This year 74% of chapters reported participation in the committee. It was exciting to have first time participation from 1,526 high schools.

This year chapters were able to resume public events for recognition of the DAR Good Citizen winners.  Recipients were honored at receptions, luncheons, picnics, and school award ceremonies. Publicity is an important tool to spread the information about DAR.  Many chapters had newspaper articles published about the local winners. Other chapters obtained in person interviews on local media outlets. All chapter winners received the certificate and pin but other gifts given included an American flag, the flag code, a subscription to the American Sprit magazine, and a yard sign for the student’s home.

During the VanBuren Administration the committee introduced the selection of both a female and a male winner at the state and division levels. This year forty-three state organizations recognized two winners.  This allowed the selection of eight females and eight males at the division level.  This increase in awards at the state and division levels was made possible by the generosity of California daughter, Patricia Holvick. 

The female national scholarship winner is Amanda Pieffer of Murray, Kentucky. She is sponsored by the Captain Wendell Oury Chapter. The male national winner is Johnathan David Burns II of Bowdon, Georgia. He is sponsored by the Abraham Baldwin Chapter.  Each national winner will be presented at Continental Congress on Thursday night at the Education Awards Night Ceremony. A $5000 scholarship and an engraved pewter bowl is presented to each.

The selection of DAR Good Citizens has continued to be one of the most recognized services for the society.  During the last eight decades this committee has evolved but endured.  These last three years have been demanding for chapters but daughters met the challenges.  Once again demonstrating the goal to RISE and SHINE for AMERICA.