Daughters dole out awards

More than 100 students from the Newport-Mesa Unified School District on Wednesday received medals and awards for knowing their American history.

It all took place at a special awards ceremony held each year by the local chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Each year, the group recognizes students inside the Costa Mesa Community Center for either speaking intelligently or writing knowledgeably about the chief tenets of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

“It’s all about patriotism, really,” said Judith Barnes, chairwoman of American History Month and Award Program for the Colonel William Cabell chapter in Newport Beach. “You can bet that every student here knows their American history.

“They know about the 13 original colonies. They know about the big war that was fought to gain our freedom. They know the Pledge of Allegiance, and they respect the flag.”

The local chapter was founded in 1950 in Newport Beach.

Its first award was given to a Newport Harbor High School student in 1953.

Ever since, the group has been doling out cash awards and medals for students who know their history and, as a result, are recognized by their history teachers.

Nationally, the DAR was founded in 1890. To become a member, any woman 18 or older must prove that one of her ancestors fought in the American Revolution.

As member Karen Treaccar jokingly noted just before the ceremony, “When they say ‘Who’s your daddy’? It really means something to the Daughters of the American Revolution.”

There are roughly 130 members in the local chapter, and across the country there are 168,000 members spanning 3,000 chapters, according to Treaccar, chapter regent and emcee of the awards ceremony.

In all, $150,000 in scholarship and financial aid is distributed to students nationally by the daughters.

This year’s winners of the Scholarship Essay Award were seniors Aaron Ludlow of Middle College High School and Hannah Speer of Costa Mesa High School. Ludlow earned $75 for his essay, and Speer won $50 for hers.

Speer and Ludlow also won Good Citizen Awards along with seniors Andrew Iverson of Corona del Mar High School, Ramon Calderon of Early College High School, Jillian Beck of Estancia High School and Robert Puncel of Newport Harbor High School.

Juniors who won Good Citizenship Medals or Certificates were: John Prickett and Samantha Rekoon of Corona del Mar; Daniel Sandoval and Allison Hatch of Costa Mesa High; Omar Plata and Lucy Rabanales of Early College High; James Nelson and Diana Valdovinos of Estancia; and Todd Bates and Lauren Conway of Newport Harbor High School.