Local DAR chapter seeks essays

Beverly Shreeve, the American History Chairman of the Old Unicoi Trail Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, is looking for students in Fannin, Towns and Union Counties, grades 5 through 12, to write about history and possibly go all the way to Washington, DC to the national winner's circle.

The local essay contest is sponsored by the Old Unicoi Trail Chapter, but winners may progress to compete in the district, state, division, and national contests, sponsored by the national DAR.

Last year, there were 147 entries from seven area schools plus several home schooled students. The local 6th grade winner, Amy Elizabeth Brumley from Union County Middle School, went on to win at the Northeast Georgia District level.

There are two separate contests: one for students in grades 5-8 and another for students in grades 9-12.

One essay contest is open to local students in grades 5 through 8 in public, private, parochial and home schools. The subject of the essay is "I Spy - Espionage During the American Revolution". For this contest, the students are to imagine what it might have been like to be a spy during the American Revolution. They are to pretend to be either loyalist or patriot, and to discuss their life as a spy. They are to relate why they chose to become a spy, some of their experiences during the war, and what consequences were brought about as results of their actions, both to themselves personally and to the war in general.

Fifth graders who choose to enter the contest will need to write a 300 to 600-word essay, and students in grades 6, 7 and 8 need to write 600 to 1,000 words.

The other essay contest is open to students in grades 9-12 in public, private, parochial and home schools. The topic is " How did the four voyages of Columbus change our perception of geography and alter world economics" and should not exceed 750 words. The voyages of Christopher Columbus across the Atlantic Ocean were the beginning of what would become an extensive effort by Europeans to explore and colonize the Western Hemisphere. In this essay the student is to compare and contrast the world view Europeans would have had before Columbus' voyages and afterwards. Then, they are to do the same for the economics of the Western world.

The DAR is very involved with and encourages patriotic education. The annual essay contests are among the ways the Daughters of the American Revolution in North Georgia, and nationally, try to inspire and motivate young historians.

The local chapter will award certificates to the local contest winners and participants at an awards ceremony to be held near the end of the school year..

The national sponsor of the Christopher Columbus essay is the Italian American Foundation. The national winner will receive a cash award, and a paid trip to Washington, DC to read his or her essay at the Columbus Memorial on Columbus Day, October 8, 2008. The National second and third place winners will also receive cash awards.

The national winner of the "I Spy" essay will also receive a certificate, gold pin and a monetary award to be presented at the DAR Continental Congress in Washington, DC in July 2008.

Entries are to be sent to Mrs. Shreeve and must arrive by the deadline of October 12, 2007.

Guidelines are available from teachers in Fannin, Union, and Towns counties or from Mrs. Shreeve at 706-896-9850 or bcsfla@aol.com.