Fifth Grade Winners (left to right), Elizabeth Flintoff, Sahar Shakib, Alessia Chiesara, Annabel Zhou, Lucy Li. Not pictured – Helena Ruth Kennedy
Eighth Grade Winners (left to right) Max Meissner, Andy Aube, Graham Lodge, Max Charney, Charlie Garland, Bailey Getlik. photo: HerbertCollection.com
The Putnam Hill Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution is pleased to announce its chapter winners for the 2016-17 American History Essay Contest sponsored nationally by the Daughters of the American Revolution.
First place winner Annabel Zhou (5th grade) is from North Mianus as is the second-place winner Lucy Li. Max Meissner (8th grade) is from Brunswick as are Graham Lodge and Max Chaney who tied for second place. The two first place winners have been advanced to competition at the state level.
This year’s essay topic for 5th through 8th graders was titled “Celebrating a Century: America’s National Parks.”
Students were asked to write journal entries as if they were visiting one of the 58 national parks, describing their chosen location and discussing why it was established as a national park and what makes it one of our national treasures.
The chapter received submissions from 93 Greenwich students. The essays were judged by an independent panel of three who generously donated their time and expertise: Anne Drake, a retired English teacher; Lettitia Long, a reading specialist; and Valerie Austyn, a local writer and storyteller.
Honorable Mentions were awarded to International School at Dundee 5th grade students Alessia Chiesara, Helena Ruth Kennedy, Sahar Shahib, and Elizabeth Flintoff who collaborated on the essay, were noted by the judging panel for their originality and imaginative writing.
Honorable Mention winners from Brunswick were Andy Aube and Charlie Garland. Also, winning praise from the judging panel is Honorable Mention winner Bailey Getlik from Greenwich Catholic School.
The chapter awards ceremony was held Tuesday, March 7 at the historic Knapp Tavern Museum at Putnam Cottage. In addition to small prizes for all twelve of the winners, each of their schools will receive a donation from the Putnam Hill Chapter for books for their school libraries in recognition of their students’ achievements.