Daughters of the American Revolution sponsors essay contest for local students grades 5-8

Zolga_F/iStock/Getty Images Plus

ST. GEORGE — The Color Country Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution is announcing an American history essay contest for all students in grades five through eight.

Students at these grade levels who are either attending a public, private or parochial school, in addition to home schoolers, are eligible to participate in this special contest annually sponsored by Daughters of the American Revolution chapters throughout the nation.

The contest is conducted without regard to race, religion, sex or national origin.  One essay at each grade level is selected as the chapter winner and forwarded to the state American history chair for state competition. State winners advance to compete at the division level, and division winners advance to national competition where one winner for each grade is named by the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution.

Essay topic for 2020-2021: the Boston Massacre

March 5, 2020 marked the 250th anniversary of the Boston Massacre, considered to be a pivotal event that paved the way to the American Revolution. Students are asked to imagine they are living in Boston and, after witnessing the events of March 5, describe their family’s discussion about the Boston Massacre and what role it played in organizing the colonists against the British king and Parliament.

  • Essay length: Grade five: 300-600 words. Grades six through eight: 600-1,000 words.
  • The essay is to be handwritten in black ink, or typed or prepared on a computer or word processor using black type in a non-script font no smaller than 12-point or larger than 14-point.
  • Adapted instructions are available for blind or special needs students.
  • The entire essay must be the student’s original work. This includes all research, writing and editing, which must be done by the students themselves and not by a parent, teacher, tutor or other helper.

A suggested reading list can be provided to assist students in their essay effort. The Color Country Chapter also suggests a book written by a local author, Jeffery McKenna, titled “Saving Dr. Warren … A True Patriot” that highlights the Boston Massacre plus other riveting events that took place during the American Revolution.

Awards and recognition opportunities

  • The Color County Chapter will award a bronze medal to the winner in each grade, plus a chapter winner certificate and a small monetary award. All participants will receive a certificate of participation.
  • The Utah State Society will award a silver medal to the state winner in each grade, plus a state winner certificate and small monetary award.
  • Division winners in each grade will receive a division winner certificate and a book.
  • National winners in each grade will receive a national winner certificate, gold pin and monetary award, presented at the Continental Congress in Washington, D.C. Winning essays may also appear in official Daughters of the American Revolution communications.

Utah student wins national award in 2019

Mason Longhurst, an eighth-grade student from Challenger School located in Jordan, was first named a chapter winner by the Wasatch Range Chapter serving the Provo area. Shortly thereafter, he was named the state winner by the Utah State Society Daughters of the American Revolution and moved forward to compete at the division and national level. His essay, centered around the 400th anniversary of the Mayflower landing, was named the eighth-grade winner by the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution and showcased at the society’s 129th Continental Congress held in June 2020.

A decade earlier, Southern Utah student Kylie Williams, a fifth-grader from Horizon Elementary School, was named the Color Country Chapter’s American history essay winner.

Those interested in participating in this essay opportunity can contact chapter regent Valerie King at colorcountrychapter@gmail.com for complete contest rules and submission information. Entries must be received by the end of the day on Dec. 4.

Free News Delivery by Email

Would you like to have the day's news stories delivered right to your inbox every evening? Enter your email below to start!