Local Teen Receives Darien DAR Good Citizen Award For 2024-2025

DARIEN, CT -- Abby O'Kane, a senior at Darien High School and the daughter of Amy and Barney, is the recipient of the 2024-2025 National Society Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizen Award.

An annual presentation of Darien’s Good Wife’s River DAR Chapter, Inc., this award is given to the Darien High School senior who best exemplifies patriotism, citizenship, dependability and service to community.

O'Kane was selected to receive this prestigious award by the faculty and the senior class at DHS. She will receive her award pin and certificate from Darien’s DAR Good Citizen Chairman Robin Wakeman Salmans, assisted by GWR Regent Karen K. Polett and CT-DAR State Regent Lisa Melland, an honored guest at this reception in O'Kane's honor.

At DHS, O'Kane is a member of the National English Honors Society and works as a writing tutor with NEHS creating writing competitions to promote English appreciation within DHS.

During her sophomore and junior year, O'Kane worked with Honor Our Heroes Club to raise money for Veterans living at Atria Assisted Living Facility and honored them in a Veterans Day ceremony at DHS.

O'Kane is a C-420 crew on the sailing team at DHS and has taught marine ccience to visitors at the Norwalk Maritime Center.

Last summer, O'Kane participated in a SoundWaters research program on the Long Island Sound, and she has also worked as a lifeguard.

In 10th and 11th grade, she received the Seal of Biliteracy in Spanish, and in 8th grade, she received the Arthur Bleemer Award for good citizenship from Middlesex Middle School.

O'Kane's service to the community is done with her family, socializing young Guide Dogs. The family takes three dogs a month for four days, teaching them early skills such as stairs, commands and alone time.

Outside of school, O'Kane's leisure time is spent reading, hiking, skiing and trail running. She is passionate about exploring the outdoors and hopes to study environmental ccience in college.