Fort Payne NSDAR announces annual awards and scholarships
Fort Payne Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, held its annual awards ceremony on Sunday, April 16, at St. John's Episcopal Church in Naperville.
Awards and scholarships were announced in several different areas to outstanding young people and community members. Fort Payne congratulates all these worthy individuals.
Kathleen Kent, author of the "Heretic's Daughter," was presented the national DAR American Heritage Women in the Arts Recognition Award. Kent, a Texas resident, is a full-time writer of historical fiction.
Hossein Jamali, owner of the Meson Sabika restaurant, was honored with DAR's Community Service Award. Jamali is well known for his humanitarian work and philanthropy in Naperville. His quiet support of solutions for food insecurity and education are legendary in Naperville and countrywide. Yet, as Ray Kinney, a previous Community Service award winner said, Jamali is "one of the most humble, generous, and kind humans I have ever met."
Audrey Hartmann, daughter of Julie and Tom Hartmann and Naperville North High School junior, won the DAR Constitution Week Poster contest, placing second place in this statewide contest.
The American History Essay contest is open to all fifth- to eighth-grade students in Naperville area public and private schools and home schoolers. This year almost 70 students participated in this annual contest. Tyler Breese, a sixth-grade student at Kennedy Jr. High School, was his school's award winner, chapter winner, and the DAR District IV sixth-grade winner. Emma Dendrinos was awarded the eighth-grade school and chapter winner. She attends Saints Peter and Paul School.
Locally, Fort Payne sponsors two scholarships, the Vera Walz Education scholarship and the Daniel Webster Education scholarship; each recipient receives $1,000 toward their college freshman tuition.
Jadyn Enas, a senior at Metea Valley High School, won the Vera Walz scholarship.
Jack Gerrity and Aadya Agarwal, both seniors at Neuqua Valley High School, were awarded Webster scholarships.
Joshua Forden, a senior at Metea Valley High School, was also awarded a Webster scholarship.
This year's DAR Good Citizen chapter award went to Olivia Meyer, a senior at Naperville Central High School. School winners from the other area high schools also honored included: Metea Valley: Michelle Azie and Daniel Williams, Naperville Central: Rohin Gopalka, Naperville North: Elyse Huang and Nathan May, Neuqua Valley: Michael Amato and Tamorah Johnson.
This year's Outstanding Teacher in American History honoree is Michael Ulriech, a U.S. history teacher at Naperville Central High School since 2006. His passion is obvious to his peers and his students over the years.
Fort Payne wishes to congratulate all these winners. Fort Payne regent Wrenne Jakubiak remarked, "Our future is secure with individuals like these people. We are proud to honor each of them."
The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution was founded in 1890 to preserve the memory and spirit of those who contributed to securing American independence. For more than 130 years, the DAR has strove to bring awareness to the honorable sacrifices and enduring legacy of all patriots who fought for America's freedom.
Through the DAR Genealogical Research System (www.dar.org/GRS), the public can access a free database of information amassed by the DAR about these patriots.
DAR is a nonprofit, nonpolitical women's service organization with more than 185,000 members in approximately 3,000 chapters worldwide. Any woman 18 years or older, regardless of race, religion, or ethnic background, who can prove lineal descent from a patriot of the American Revolution is eligible for membership.
DAR members passionately carry out the timeless mission of promoting historic preservation, education and patriotism. To learn more about the work of today's DAR, visit www.dar.org.