Each year the José Maria Amador Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), NSDAR, sponsors national contests. You’re invited to participate in the American History Essay Contest and the Christopher Columbus Essay Contest. Chapter winners are acknowledged with a $100 monetary prize, a certificate and a medal at the chapter’s Annual Awards Ceremony in February 2013.
Both essay contests are judged for historical accuracy, adherence to topic, organization of materials, interest, originality, spelling, grammar, punctuation and neatness. The deadline for each contest is Nov. 15, 2012.
The American History Essay Contest is open to students in grades five through eight. The 2012-2013 topic is “Forgotten Patriots Who Supported the American Struggle for Independence.” Contestants should write a 300-600 word essay (5th grade), and a 600-1,000 word essay (6th-8th grades) focusing on the often unrecognized people and groups who provided military, patriotic and public service in support of the American Revolution. Explain why it is especially important to honor the unsung heroes and often forgotten patriots.
The chapter will send one winning essay from each of the four grades for judging at the district level, and those winners will proceed to state level competition. The state winners are sent to the DAR Southwest Division Chairman who forwards those winners to the National Chairman. National winners will receive a certificate, gold pin and monetary award presented at DAR 122nd Continental Congress, June 2013.
Contact DAR chairpersons Phyllis Houghton at pnhoughton@sbcglobal.net or Arlene Farley at aerospacetchr@sbcglobal.net for an information packet and further guidelines.
The Christopher Columbus Essay Contest is open to students in grades 9-12. The 2012-2013 topic is “To the Memory of Christopher Columbus, Whose High Faith and Indomitable Courage Gave to Mankind a New World.” Contestants should write a 800-1,200 word essay focusing on how high levels of faith and belief, and determined courage was demonstrated in the life and actions of Columbus, and explain how this gave to mankind a new world.
The chapter will select one winning essay for judging at the district level, and that winner will proceed to state level competition. The state winner is sent to the DAR Southwest Division Chairman who forwards the winner to the National Chairman. The national winner will receive $1,200 and paid lodging and transportation to Washington, D.C. to read the prize-winning essay at the Columbus Memorial on Columbus Day Oct. 14, 2013. The second place national winner will receive $500 and the third place national winner will receive $300.
Contact DAR chairperson Carole Vercellino at caroleverc_@hotmail.com for an information packet and further guidelines.
