Pleasanton DAR Chapter Announces Scholarship Winners

From Pleasanton DAR: The Pleasanton based José Maria Amador chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution held its annual student awards ceremony on February 9, 2018. Eight (8) local students were recognized for taking part in the 2018/2019 programs: DAR Good Citizen, American History Essay Contest – “The Women’s Suffrage Campaign”, and Christopher Columbus Essay Contest – “Comparing Ship Technology”.

Madeline Baalman won the DAR Good Citizen Award for demonstrating qualities of dependability, service, leadership and patriotism. Madeline is a senior at Dublin High School in Dublin. Samantha McCue of Foothill High School and Bailey Morita of Valley High School in Dublin were awarded honorable mention. Four students from different grade levels were presented American History Essay Awards for their description of “The Women’s Suffrage Campaign”. The 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was passed by the United States Congress on June 4, 1919 and was ratified on August 18, 1920. This amendment granted all American women the right to vote and hold elective office. Many Americans at the time viewed this as a radical change to the U.S. Constituiton. Sarrinah Farheen, Bella Vista Elementary, San Ramon, was the 5th Grade Winner as well as the CSSDAR District IV Winner. Olivia Kang, Thomas Hart Middle School, Pleasanton, was the 6th Grade Winner. Aditya Dawar, Harvest Park
Middle School, Pleasanton was the 7th Grade Winner. Priyal Sharma, Windemere Ranch Middle School, San Ramon, was the 8th Grade Winner. District winners will go on to compete at the state level.

Rohan Jayaram read his winning essay on “Comparing Ship Technology: The Ships Columbus Used Versus the Ships of Today”. His essay discussed the advantages and disadvantages of these late fifteenth-century ships compared to the modern ships of today and how they would have been prepared for his voyage. JMADAR presented certificates, pins, and in some case scholarship monies. The students were also honored with certificates from Pleasanton Mayor Jerry Thorne, Amanda Martin representing congressman Eric Swalwell, Dublin City Council members Jean Josey and Shawn Kumagai and San Ramon City Council member David Hudson. The ceremony was held at the Pleasant View Church of Christ in Pleasanton. The Young American Patriots (YAPS) Fife and Drum Corps opened the ceremony by playing rousing American music of the Revolutionary War period including Yankee Doodle. Debbie Janes, JMADAR Regent, led the award ceremony. Family members, school representatives and local political leaders attended and congratulated the winners. The morning concluded with refreshments. The American History Essay contest, the DAR Good Citizen Award and the Christopher Columbus essay contest are conducted annually by the DAR whose mission is historical preservation, promotion of education and encouragement of patriotic endeavor. For more information about joining the local DAR chapter, please contact Regent Debbie Janes at jmadar.regent@gmail.com."

Photo courtesy Pleasanton DAR chapter