Local students and “good citizens” awarded by the Daughters of the American Revolution
From CSDAR,
On April 29, at the Belmont American Legion, Catherine Schuyler Chapter DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution) recognized the 2026 DAR Good Citizens chosen by participating Allegany County high schools.
Those students are Danika Loucks, Bolivar-Richburg Central School; Elijah Strickland, Fillmore Central School; Morgan Holcomb, Friendship Central School; Nolan Hunter, Genesee Valley Central School; Kennedy Ewing, Wellsville Central School. Each school’s Good Citizen received a pin, certificates, and a monetary award. Chairman of the Allegany County Board of Legislature, W. Brooke Harris, was the featured guest speaker. After the program, refreshments were served , provided by the officers of the DAR chapter.
The DAR Good Citizens Program is a decades old means of encouraging and recognizing the traits of an outstanding American citizen, as defined by the DAR.
One Good Citizen is selected by each participating school district as the senior class member who most exemplifies the DAR Good Citizen qualities of dependability, service, leadership, and patriotism.
An essay has become part of an expanded scholarship contest for which participation is optional on the part of the student. The timed essay accounts for 30% of the judges’ ratings. The remaining 70% involves the student’s description of the ways in which they have demonstrated the Good Citizen qualities, their academic records, and recommendations. The judges do not belong to the DAR and use pre-set, national judging criteria. The chapter winner, whose essay and credentials are sent on for district judging, was announced to be Nolan Hunter, representing Genesee Valley Central School. Nolan read his essay to the audience, which included family, guests, and DAR chapter members.
Soon after its founding in 1897, Catherine Schuyler Chapter offered an essay contest to local students, with gold and silver medals being awarded. The national program was created in 1934 as the DAR Good Citizenship Pilgrimage. The state winners were senior girls from four-year high schools who all received a trip to Washington, DC. In 1952, the name was changed to DAR Good Citizens Committee and monetary awards were presented to the winners. Some time later, boys were also included.
As times change, the program has had to change, but the qualities of good citizenship that are reflected in and exemplified by these local Good Citizens have continually prepared them for a successful future.
