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The Yadkin River Patriots Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution recognized seven high school seniors as DAR Good Citizens at the DAR meeting on Nov. 15 at the Stanly County Public Library.
Jacqueline Sanders, Yadkin River Patriots Chapter regent, welcomed the students, family members, guidance counselors and other school representatives. Everyone was invited to join members of the DAR chapter for refreshments and to hear the students read their essays.
This year’s DAR Good Citizens are Anslee Austin, West Stanly High School; Lydia Crisco, Stanly Early College; Lilly Dangerfield, Gray Stone Day School; Kayleigh Faircloth, Stanly STEM Early College; Vincent Gregory, Albemarle High School; Ericah Reese, South Stanly High School, and Jalen Walker, North Stanly High School.
Pat Bramlett, chairman of the DAR Good Citizen committee, with the help of Sanders, presented each DAR Good Citizen with a personalized framed certificate, a DAR Good Citizen pin, a chart explaining the pin’s significance and a wallet card.
Anslee Austin, a West Stanly High School student, and Lilly Dangerfield, a Gray Stone Day School student, were recognized as the local DAR chapter’s winning DAR Good Citizens for 2024. They each received a check for $100 from the local DAR chapter and will advance to the district level of competition. All other students received a check for $25.

The DAR Good Citizens program and essay contest are intended to encourage and reward the qualities of good citizenship. The program is open to high school seniors. One student per high school is recognized each year.
The DAR scholarship program consists of two parts. Part I Personal includes:
• a list of the student’s participation in high school activities, offices held, awards received and areas of special interest;
• a description of service to their community (home, school, place of worship);
• future plans, educational and career goals, and aspirations in life;
• extracurricular activities, after-school or summer jobs, hobbies, etc.; and
• a description of how they have demonstrated the qualities of a good citizen in four areas: Dependability, Service, Leadership and Patriotism.
Also required are two letters of recommendation.
Part II is a timed essay to be written by the student during one sitting under the supervision of a faculty member. The essay can be no more than 550 words and must be completed within two hours without assistance. A dictionary is the only reference material allowed. The students have no prior knowledge of the essay prompt.
The essay title for 2024 was “Our American Heritage and Our Responsibility for Preserving It.” This year’s Focus Question was: “Service is an essential attribute of a good citizen. Discuss how service can foster a strong sense of community and strengthen our American Identity?”
The essays and other documents are all submitted to non-DAR judges, who independently evaluate the students’ descriptions of their qualities as good citizens and how well they addressed the essay topic. The judges evaluate using a point system form provided by the National DAR Good Citizen Committee.