Ox Ridge student Elizabeth Abelson has won the Fifth Grade American History Essay Contest sponsored by Darien’s Good Wife’s River Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
She was one of six Darien students who won recognition in the essay contest.
— an announcement from the DAR Good Wife’s River Chapter
Seren Samy also an Ox Ridge student won second place, and Pavana Attonito, a Hindley student placed third. The runners-up are Cole Coghlin from Tokeneke; Tory Brupbacher from Hindley and Simona Sordoni from Ox Ridge.
Photo by David E. Polett
Darien’s Good Wife’s River DAR Chapter’s Fifth Grade American History Essay Contest winners: front center, first place winner, Elizabeth Abelson from Ox Ridge; to her left is second place winner, Seren Samy from Ox Ridge; right front is third place winner Pavana Attonito, a Hindley student. Back row left to right are Honorable Mention winners: Cole Coghlin from Tokeneke; Victoria Brupbacher from Hindley and Simona Sordoni from Ox Ridge.
This year’s topic, “The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier” celebrated the 100th anniversary of the dedication of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Washington, D.C. on Nov. 11, 2021.
Students were asked to imagine they had lost a brother in World War I and were asked why it is important to remember those who gave their lives to serve our nation.
On Monday, Jan. 31, winners gathered on the steps of the Noroton Presbyterian Church to accept their DAR award certificates from Essay Contest Chairman Sandi MacPherson.
Good Wife’s River DAR Honorary Regent Karen Polett presented each winner with a gift certificate donated by Barrett Bookstore owner Sheila Daley. Parents and several DAR members attended the brief ceremony (which pre-COVID 19 was held as an indoor reception) for the winners and their teachers, administrators and families.
This contest is an annual event sponsored by the local DAR chapter. Winning essays go on to the state competition and state winners compete on the national level.
Darien students have won the state competition in two of the last six years.
For additional information or DAR applications, please contact the Regent Nicole Gorman. Membership in the NSDAR is open to any woman over the age of 18 who can trace her direct lineage to a male or female Patriot whose last act was to fight in or offer material aid to the cause of American Independence during the Revolutionary War.