Long Valley Student Takes Top Prize In National Contest

LONG VALLEY, NJ - Long Valley Middle School 8th grader Erin Meehan was a first place winner in the Williamsburg Daughters of the American Revolution 2019 Junior American Citizens Art and Creative Expression Contest.

Each year, students across the United States enter the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Junior American Citizens (JAC) Art and Creative Expression Contest. This year's theme was "The 100th Anniversary of the 19th Amendment: American Women Rise and Shine."

The contest is open to all K-12 students in public, private, home schools, and scout and youth groups. In five contest categories, students receive certificates from chapters, states, and division levels. The National (NSDAR) level winners win certificates and medals.

Meehan entered the Short Story Category in the JAC Contest this year and is a winner. Meehan placed her entry with the Williamsburg DAR Chapter in Virginia due to the DAR chapter in her local area not participating in this year's contest and because she has family members who live in Virginia, officials said.

Meehan's entry earned a first-place certificate on the Williamsburg chapter, Virginia State, and Eastern Division levels of this contest. The following states make up the DAR Eastern Division: Deleware, DC, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.

Students have participated in the DAR Junior American Citizens program since 1901. By reaching out to students in grade K-12 across the United States, the program fosters the idea that the rights and responsibilities of citizenship can and should be taught from an early age, officials said.

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