Daughters of the American Revolution honors good citizens

COEUR d’ALENE — Through its DAR Good Citizens award program, the Lt. George Farragut Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, annually honors high school seniors who exemplify the qualities of dependability, service, leadership and patriotism.

Each participating high school selects one senior for the award. This year’s winners are Ruth Schenkenberger, Lakeland High School; Catherine Sheppard, Wallace High School; Rachel Schroder, Genesis Prep Academy; Samantha Long, Timberlake High School; and Katlin Senteney, Kellogg High School.

DAR Good Citizens chairman Marilyn Swanson sees the contest as “a wonderful way to recognize outstanding young people who exhibit good qualities in their homes, schools, and in their communities."

Award winners have the option of entering the DAR Good Citizens scholarship essay contest. All five winners elected to participate in the essay contest this year. Students are not given the topic ahead of time, and must write the essay without reference materials in the presence of a faculty member. Schenkenberger was selected as the scholarship winner for Lt. George Farragut Chapter, and her essay will advance to the state competition.

In her essay on “Our American Heritage and Responsibility for Preserving It,” Schenkenberger recognizes that America's system of democracy, Constitutional rights and equality of opportunity may come under attack.

"However," she wrote, "we cannot let this prospect scare us into inaction. If we focus on educating the nation’s youth, we will be able to preserve our values for generations to come.”

Schenkenberger plans to major in political science and attend law school before embracing her goal of being elected to public office, where she hopes to shape the future of the country and protect the civil liberties of the people.