DAR Recognizes Good Citizens
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During their meeting on Wednesday, February 4, the local chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) recognized local high school seniors who displayed good citizenship both inside and outside the classroom The Good Citizen Award is given to a high school senior that embodies the qualities of good citizenship from each high school within the area, such as dependability, service, leadership, and patriotism. This year, the local DAR presented the award to representatives from 4 of the 6 schools within the chapter’s region. The winners included Robert Toombs Christian Academy Senior Grayson Smesny, Treutlen County High School Senior Takyla Wadley, Toombs County High School Senior Sarah Ellis Walker, and Vidalia High School Senior Kingston Ryals.
These students are selected through a vote by both students and teachers at each school, and are then invited to participate in an essay competition to compete for scholarships. To be eligible for these scholarships, the students must complete a detailed application, obtain 3 written letters of recommendation, and write an essay on a selected topic within a two-hour timeframe. These essays are then judged by 3 anonymous individuals who are not in DAR, and the top-scoring essay moves on to the district competition. If the essay wins the district level competition, it will then move on to the state and potentially national competitions.
Ultimately, it was Vidalia High School Senior Kingston Ryals who came out on top and was selected to move on to the district competition.
“I wrote my essay about all the sacrifices that so many men and women have done for our right to vote and how it's important that as Americans and citizens that we honor that sacrifice that they made by going and voting, and making sure that we're knowledgeable about what's going on in our country,” Ryals emphasized.
He shared that he plans to pursue a degree in political science. Ryals is currently trying to decide whether to attend the University of Georgia or Georgia Tech, as he has been accepted to both schools.
“I'm just truly honored that a panel of judges connected with the message,” he commented about the honor. “I think the message is very important for young people today to take with them and understand the importance of being civically involved and civically aware and just knowing what's going on in the world around them.”
His essay will now compete at the regional level, and potentially the state and national levels for further scholarships.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, DAR Good Citizen Award Coordinator Pam Langston and the other members of the DAR thanked the awardees and their guests for coming, and shared their excitement for the annual event.
“It is an honor and a joy to be able to celebrate these students every year,” she shared.
