contests

Daughters of the American Revolution offers many programs which encourage and reward students of all ages. Below is a summary of a few we offer. For more specific information on any of these contests, please contact us.

Junior American Citizen (JAC)	American Heritage/History Contests	Other Awards/Contests
-Art Contest -Creative Expression Contest -Community Service Project Contest	-American History Essay Contest -Christopher Columbus Essay Contest -DAR Good Citizen Program/Scholarship Contest -NSDAR Outstanding Teacher of American History -DAR History Award Medal -NSDAR Historic Preservation Award	-NSDAR Conservation Medal -Community Service Award -DAR Outstanding Veteran-Patient Award -Outstanding Youth Volunteer Award

Junior American Citizens (JAC) Contests

The JAC Contest is open to all students in public, private, parochial, and sanctioned home schools in grades pre-school through 12; however pre-school and kindergarten students may participate only in the banner and group community service project contests. Participation is not limited to students in a classroom; youth groups such as scout troups, C.A.R. societies, and service organizations may also participate in the contests.
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JAC Art Contest: Includes four categories: stamp, poster, banner, and photographic essay. A winner will be selected in each grade level and category. Students compete as individuals only in the stamp, poster, and photographic essay categories; the banner category is by group entry only, the definition of a group being three or more students. Pre-school and kindergarten students may compete in the banner category of the Art Contest. Art generated on the computer using clip art, cut and paste technique, or scanned images is not allowed.
JAC Creative Expression Contest includes two cateories: poetry and short story. Students compete as individuals only - group entries are not allowed. Pre-school and kindergarten students may not compete in the creative expression contest.
JAC Community Service Project Contest is by both individual and group entry for students in grades 1 - 12. In addition, pre-school and kindergarten students may compete as a group. A group is defined as three or more students.

American Heritage/American History Contests

American History Essay Contest is an essay contest for 5, 6, 7, and 8th-grade students in a public, private, or parochial school, or those who are home schoolers. Essay length for grade 5 is 300-600 words, grades 6, 7, and 8 is 600-1000 words. Essay is to be handwritten in ink, 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. More information

Christopher Columbus Essay Contest is an essay contest for grades 9 - 12. Essay length is to be no more than 750 words. Essay must be 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. More information

DAR Good Citizens Program and Scholarship Contest is intended to encourage and reward the qualities of good citizenship. The program is open to all senior class students enrolled in accredited public or private sceondary schools, which are in good standing with the State Board of Education. United States citizenship is not required. The student selected as the school's DAR Good Citizen must have the qualities of Dependability (which includes truthfulness, loyalty, and punctuality); Service (which includes cooperation, courtesy, and consideration of others); Leadership (which includes personality, self-control, and ability to assume responsibility); and Patriotism (which incluces unselfish interest in family, school, community and nation) to an outstanding degree. More information

NSDAR Outstanding Teacher of American History contest is to recognize a notable, full-time teacher of American History (and related fields, such as social studies, government, and citizenship education) in public, private, and parochial schools, Grades 6 - 12. The candidate must a) have taught school during the current academic years; b)teach in the state that sponsors the candidate; c) have an incisive knowlege of American History that he/she readily shares with students; d) foster a spirit of patriotism and loyal support of our country and constitutional government; e) demonstrate the ability to relate history to modern life and events; f) have high academic standards, requiring excellence at all times from students; g) be committed to his/her students and enjoy a good rapport with them. More information

DAR History Award Medal is given to a nominee whose study and/or promotion of some aspect of American history, on the local, regional, or national level, has significantly advanced the understanding of our nation's past. Nominees must demonstrate significant contributions to the study and/or promotion of American history outside, above, and beyond that which is required for any paid employment in order to be eligible for this award. The successful candidate's volunteer contributions to history may have been associated with any of the following: archives, manuscript collections, historical societies, libraries, museums, or other organizations focusing on history. Writers/editors of significant historical publications, historical researchers, and persons involved with preservation efforts of historical buildings, artifacts, or records are eligible as long as their work being honored is beyond their paid employment. Persons whose primary work is in the field of genealogy are not generally eligible for the award unless they also have made significant history-related contributions to the study of American History.

NSDAR Historic Preservation Award can be awarded to any individual man or woman with a distinguished record in historic preservation. Criteria for issuance include: outstanding efforts in establishing an historic district or preserving a local landmark; restoration or preservation of objects of historic cultural significance; establishing or long term participation in oral history project; youth leadership; education on the college, secondary, or elementary level as it pertains to historic preservation. The candidate nominated must be sponsored by a chapter or a state organization and should have at least two letters of recommendation written by non-DAR members. Other material such as newspaper or magazine articles should be sent to substantiate the recommendation.

Other awards and contests

NSDAR Conservation Medal can be awarded to any man or woman with a distinguished conservation record. Criteria for issuance include outstanding efforts in wildlife and nature centers, resource management, park establishment, youth leadership, the media, and education on the college, high school, or elelmentary level. The candidate nominated must be sponsored by a chapter or a state organization and should have at least two letters of recommendation written by non-DAR members. Other material such as newspaper or magazine articles should be sent to substantiate the recommendation.

Community Service Award - The purpose of the Community Service Award is to recognize worthy, local people from a variety of walks of life for outstanding achievements in educational, humanitarian, patriotic, historical or citizenship endeavors, or enviornmental conservation. The recipient is expected ot have contributed to his/her community in an outstanding voluntary, heroic, civic, or benevolent manner, or participated in or organized community activites. This achievement should have taken place in the past five (5) years. More information

DAR Outstanding Veteran-Patient Award is presented to the veteran-patient in recognition of outstanding achievement in personal, professional, and family life following a disability. Applicant must prove significant contributions of leadership, patriotism and increased public awareness of veteran-patients. More information

Outstanding Youth Volunteer Award is given to a youth volunteer who is not over 18 and who is serving in a VA facility, in recognition of outstanding or unusual achievement in caring for veteran-patients. The candidate for this award serves as a role model for peers and shows quality of leadership.