DAR Good Citizen Awards to High School Seniors

The Sarah Riggs Humphreys-Mary Silliman Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) presented the 2015 DAR Good Citizen Awards to three local high school seniors: Andrea Albarella, a senior at Derby High School; Ashley Chan, a senior at Shelton High School; and Erin Wingo, a senior at Trumbull High School.

The DAR Good Citizens Program and Scholarship contest is intended to encourage and reward the qualities of good citizenship. This program is open to all senior students enrolled in an accredited public or private secondary school. The student selected as the school’s DAR Good Citizen must reflect the following qualities: dependability, including truthfulness and loyalty; service, including cooperation, courtesy, and consideration of others; leadership, including the ability to assume responsibility; and patriotism, including interests in family, school, community, and nation, all to an outstanding degree.

The recipients received a National DAR certificate, pin, and a check. The awardceremony, attended by students, families, school administrators and teachers, took place on March 10 at the David Humphreys House in Ansonia. Chapter Regent Christy Hendrie said the DAR Good Citizens program is a great way to recognize outstanding young people who show the qualities of good citizenship. Committee Co-Chair Betsy Grant presented the awards and mentioned she is always so impressed by the achievements and accolades of our students and this year is no exception. Betsy wished the students well in their future school and community endeavors.

Ashley Chan is a member of the Junior State of America Club and interacts with high school students from all over the Northeast. She said this involvement gives her a sense of awareness of various topics nationally and internationally and brings a different perspective on the issues of the day. Currently she is undecided on a college but hopes to pursue either sociology or mathematics.

Erin Wingo is a member of Trumbull High School teacher Katie Boland’s AP/ECE Government class of 22 seniors at Trumbull High School who won the State Championship forthe “We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution” competition at Central CT State University and will be competing at the National level in April. Erin said that this has impacted her high school career not only academically but has given her a sense of community. She said this is one of her most favorite endeavors in high school. Erin eventually wants to pursue a career in business.

Andrea Albarella, besides winning academic first honors at Derby High School, is currently the Barnum Festival Princess, secretary for the Valley United Way, and volunteers with Special Olympics. Andrea said that being the Barnum Festival Princess and volunteering in United Way give her opportunities to help the elderly and those with special needs. She plans on studying law at Quinnipiac University.

The DAR perpetuates the memory and spirit of the men and women who won American independence. The DAR is a women’s service organization dedicated to historic preservation, education and patriotism. Any woman over 18 who can prove an ancestor served in the American Revolution is a prospective member. For more information on the DAR visit http://www.sarahriggshumphreysDAR.org.