The Colonel William Candler Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of
the American Revolution recognized outstanding students and community leaders April 12 at their
annual Awards Tea at First Presbyterian Church in Gainesville.
The Good Citizen Award rewards the good citizenship of high school seniors, recognizing and
rewarding individuals who possess the qualities of dependability, service, leadership, and patriotism in
their homes, schools, and communities. These students are selected by their teachers and peers because
they demonstrate these qualities to an outstanding degree. United States citizenship is not required..
The following students were named Good Citizens: Megan Jessica Freeman, Chestatee; Jasmin Ruiz
Benitez, East Hall; Spencer Summer, Gainesville; Cecelia Kathleen Tatro, Johnson; Drew Cottrell,
Lakeview; and Georgia Rose Warnock, West Hall. Freeman was honored as the overall winner of the
Good Citizen essay contest.
The Youth Citizen Award is awarded to eighth grade students. The DAR Youth Citizenship Medal
(formerly Good Citizenship Medal) was established to foster among schoolchildren a greater
appreciation of the qualities of citizenship Americans must possess if our country is to remain
sovereign and independent. This medal is presented to a student who exemplifies the qualities of
honor, service, courage, leadership, and patriotism.
The following students were named Youth Citizens: Thomas G. Parker, Davis Middle School;
Alexander Nunez, Chestatee Academy; Carlos Rodriguez, DaVinci Academy; Joseph Vandiver, East
Hall Middle School; Jackson Mimbs, North Hall Middle School; Briana Bonilla-Reyes, South Hall
Middle School; Zoe Johnston-Hadaway, World Language Academy; Jessi Camden Cox, Gainesville
Middle School; George-Henry Ewers, Lakeview Academy; Laura Nicole Arbo, Maranatha Christian
Academy; Haylie Ramsey, Lanier Christian Academy, T.M.; and Adalyn Mills, Lanier Christian
Academy, U.M. This award
The Junior American Citizen Award recognizes fifth grade students for their artwork, creative
expression and citizenship. The theme was “100th Anniversary of WWI - Service on the Homefront.”
Winners for this award include: Jose Salcido, First Place Stamp, Israel Mohele, First Place Poster, and
Jess Freeman, First Place Short Story. All three are fifth graders from Enota Multiple Intelligences
Academy. Dulce Garcia, also of Enota, was awarded with Good Citizenship.
Enota fifth grader Hudson Everett, and North Hall Middle School seventh grader Ellie Wingate and
eighth grader Taylor Rudeseal were the winners of the American History Awards.
DAR also recognizes outstanding community service leaders. Our Community Service Award was
given to Hall County Schools Superintendent Will Schofield. Schofield was recognized for his work
with Constitution Week and the goal to make the county the most constitutionally literate county in
the United States, in part with a constitution web course developed by the school system. Since the launch
of the course, over 31,000 visits have been tallied at the site. Over 14,000 pocket Constitutions have
been distributed.
David Nottingham was recognized for his work with veterans with the Outstanding Veteran Volunteer
Award.
The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution was founded in 1890 to promote
patriotism, preserve American history, and support better education for our nation's children. Its
members are descended from the patriots who won American independence during the Revolutionary
War. With more than 165,000 members in approximately 3,000 chapters worldwide, DAR is one of the
world's largest and most active service organizations. To learn more about the work of today's DAR,
visit www.DAR.org.
