Essay award winner Katharine Lawrence, left, a senior at Notre Dame, is with Eileen Pourcho of the Piety Hill chapter, National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Lawrence picked up her honor this week at an award ceremony held at the Bloomfield Township Public Library.
Lawrence, whose essay was on “patriotism through responsible citizenship,” picked up her “Good Citizen” award at a ceremony held at the Bloomfield Township Public Library.
In addition to receiving a scholarship, pin and a certificate for her winning essay, Lawrence received her own personal American flag that eventually will be flown over the nation's Capitol on her behalf.
Lawrence’s essay on patriotism through responsible citizenship detailed her thoughts on the importance of stepping forward and participating in preserving the rich history of the United States. Her move toward patriotism also was sparked further by her family’s continued involvement in saving and preserving a ship called the S.S. United States, which was built in 1952 and still holds the trans-Atlantic speed record for a passenger liner.
“I felt very honored to have been able to participate and receive this award from DAR,” said Lawrence. “To have been surrounded by my peers at the ceremony as well as the women of DAR who put so much effort in preserving our nation's history and to be able to discuss what it means to be a citizen of the United States was very special to me.”
In her winning essay, Lawrence discussed how as citizens we must “learn from our past so as to ensure a better future,” and she built on the concept of responsible citizenship as seen through community service involvement in the form of educating others about issues that impact those in need and responding to it. In addition, Lawrence used examples in her award-winning essay about the service work she has done throughout high school, specifically those that tackled poverty and homelessness.
More on the DAR Good Citizens Award and Scholarship Award
This award recognizes and rewards individuals who possess good citizenship qualities of dependability, service, leadership and patriotism in their homes, schools and communities. These students are selected by their teachers and peers because they demonstrate these qualities to an outstanding degree.
• This program is only open to high school seniors whose schools are accredited by their state board of education.
• Only one student per year may be honored as a school’s “DAR Good Citizen.”
• United States citizenship is not required.
• Additional rules and guidelines can be acquired by contacting your local DAR chapter.
Once a student is chosen as the DAR Good Citizen the student is invited to participate in the scholarship portion of the program. This consists of a personal statement and an essay. Student participation in the scholarship portion of the program is optional.
More on the the Daughters of the American Revolution and its Piety Hill chapter
The DAR was founded in 1890 and incorporated in 1896 by an Act of Congress. The Piety Hill Chapter was founded in 1935. The DAR is a non-profit, non-political, volunteer women’s service organization dedicated to promoting patriotism, preserving American history, and securing American’s future through better education. There are 175,000 members in 3,000 chapters in the United States and overseas.
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About Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy
Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy is a private, Catholic, independent, coeducational day school located in Oakland County. The school's upper division enrolls students in grades nine through twelve and has been named one of the nation's best 50 Catholic high schools (Acton Institute) four times since 2005. Notre Dame's middle and lower divisions enroll students in jr. kindergarten through grade eight. All three divisions are International Baccalaureate "World Schools." The Marist Fathers and Brothers sponsor NDPMA's Catholic identity and manages its educational program. Notre Dame is accredited by the National Association of Independent Schools, the Independent Schools Association of the Central States and the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement. For more on Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy, visit the school's home page at www.ndpma.org.