Granville student wins DAR essay contest

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Granville eighth grader and Daughters of the American Revolution American History essay contest winner Maddie Wilson.

Granville Junior Senior High School eighth-grader Maddie Wilson won the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) American History essay contest for her submission on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Wilson is the Ann Story Chapter winner out of Rutland, Vermont that includes Granville students. She will be recognized at a banquet at Rutland Country Club on March 17 at 1 p.m. and read her essay for the attendees while receiving a winner’s certificate, medal and small monetary award.

“Winners at the Chapter level are forwarded to the state chairperson for further judging at the State DAR level. If they also win at the State level, they are again forwarded to the Northeast Division level and possibly even to the National level,” essay contest chair Cheryl Gosselin said. 

“State winners are invited to an awards ceremony in Addison, Vermont for the annual Vermont State DAR pilgrimage to the John Strong Mansion and Museum, the once home of a Revolutionary War Patriot, preserved and operated as a museum since 1934 by the Vermont State Society DAR.”

Wilson said she was “kind of surprised” to have won but happy to have learned about a historical treasure and significant part of this nation’s history.

“It’s important to honor those who gave their lives to our country. It’s important to our history,” Wilson said. “I learned how two soldiers stand in front and are guarding the tomb, they walk in a certain formation and are guarding it 24/7.”

When asked what appealed to the judging committee about Wilson’s essay, Gosselin said “the personal family type background information she used to describe the soldier was descriptive and well written.”

Wilson was informed of the essay contest by her math teacher, Kenis Sweet, when the opportunity appeared on his computer screen. He printed out the announcement and put it on his whiteboard as an opportunity for his students to seize.

“I’m definitely proud of a student that would go above and beyond in something that’s not a requirement.” Sweet said. “(Wilson is) one of the most hard-working eighth graders who really strives to be the best that she can be. I wish more eighth graders felt the same way about themselves.”

Ironically, Wilson laughed when she revealed she had submitted her one-and-a-half-page essay on the due date. She was informed on March 1 that she won after submitting the essay several months prior.

“It feels really interesting for them to think I’m a good writer,” Wilson said.

According to Gosselin, the DAR was founded in 1890 and serves as a non-profit, non-political volunteer women’s service organization.

“The American History essay contest was created to encourage students to think creatively about American history and the sacrifices made for our democracy and freedoms by American patriots and those who supported them,” Gosselin said.

High school principal Lisa Meade said Wilson will have several staff and administration supporters in attendance for the ceremony in Rutland.

“Maddie is an outstanding young lady, already an academic scholar! So far this year she has already earned High Honor Roll and an additional exemplary behavior award for the first semester,” Meade said. “She also participates in our band and chorus programs. Her teachers consistently remark what a pleasure she is to have in class and how she always puts forth her best effort. Her math teacher, Mr. Sweet, is always building in pieces of character education into all of his lessons and was the one who let her know about the contest. The fact that she showed such independence and drive to complete it all on her own says so much about her.”