STARKVILLE — A local chapter of National Society Daughters of the American Revolution recently recognized its essay and citizenship award winners.
Four winners of the American essay contest and two DAR Good Citizen award winners attended the Thursday meeting of the Hic-A-Sha-Ba-Ha chapter at the Starkville Sportsplex building annex.
According to chapter member Sally Laughlin, the chapter received 170 entries for its American essay contest from throughout Oktibbeha County. Students in fifth through eighth grade wrote their essays about the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, a historic monument dedicated to deceased U.S. service members whose remains have not been identified. It is located in Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia and was dedicated on Nov. 11, 1921.
In honor of the monument’s 100th anniversary, the essay writers had to research and imagine being at the dedication of the tomb back in 1921 and what it meant to themselves and their families.
The local fifth-grade essay winner was Naomi Massey, of Starkville Academy, who also won first place in the state. Starkville Academy’s Austin Goode placed first in the local sixth-grade contest. Mary Holland Nicholas,
also of Starkville Academy, placed first in the eighth-grade contest in Starkville and placed third in the state.
High-school students wrote essays about a person who made an impact during the Revolutionary War. Local ninth-grade winner Luncy Turnage, a student at Starkville Christian School, wrote about Nathanael Greene.
Each essay contest winner received a certificate, medal, copy of the United State Constitution and monetary gift.
The winners of the DAR Good Citizens awards were selected by their school’s administrators and teachers. The recipient had to be in 12th grade and have to exemplify the character traits of — dependability, service, leadership and patriotism.
Those who receive the award have the opportunity to write an essay. If the recipient chooses to write an essay, the topic is given to them in a sealed envelope. They then must write the essay without any research, said chapter member Libby Gill.
The winners were Lisa Smith, of Starkville Christian School; Cooper McNeel, of Starkville Academy; and Mya
Carr, of Starkville High School.
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Starkville Academy Head of School Jeremy Nicholas, fifth-grader Naomi Massey, SA Elementary Principal Krista Vowell and NSDAR Hic-A-Sha-Ba-Ha chapter 1st Vice Regent Amanda Edwards pose Thursday after a NSDAR meeting at Starkville Sportsplex. Massey won first place in Starkville and the entire state. Nicole Bowman-Layton/Dispatch Staff
Starkville Academy Head of School Jeremy Nicholas, sixth-grader Austin Goode, SA Elementary Principal Krista Vowell and NSDAR Hic-A-Sha-Ba-Ha chapter 1st Vice Regent Amanda Edwards pose after Goode won first place in Starkville for her essay. Nicole Bowman-Layton/Dispatch Staff
Starkville Academy Head of School Jeremy Nicholas, eighth-grader Mary Holland Nicholas, SA Elementary Principal Krista Vowell and NSDAR Hic-A-Sha-Ba-Ha chapter 1st Vice Regent Amanda Edwards pose after Holland Nicholas won first place in Starkville in her grade for her essay. She placed third in the state. Nicole Bowman-Layton/Dispatch Staff
Starkville Christian School Cindy Alderman, ninth-grader Lucy Turnage and NSDAR Hic-A-Sha-Ba-Ha chapter 1st Vice Regent Amanda Edwards post after Turnage was honored for winning first in the chapter’s ninth-grade essay contest. Nicole Bowman-Layton/Dispatch Staff
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