ST. GEORGE — The answer to current problems lies in understanding history, first place winner of the Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizens essay contest said.
On Tuesday, parents, students, teachers, school counselors and others joined the Daughters of the American Revolution for a patriotic luncheon at the American Legion Hall of St. George to honor essay contest winners from seven Washington County schools, who wrote about essential acts of a good citizen and how to solve contemporary issues.
“I really believe the old adage is true: if you don’t learn about history, it will repeat itself,” Ella Tyler, a senior at Crimson Cliffs High School, said. “So by learning about history and how government works, you learn about some of the mistakes we made in the past.”
Tyler, who won first place in the local chapter’s essay contest, told St. George News that she wrote about historical solutions and how those can be applied today.
“So, by learning history, the answer to today’s problems is really in history,” she said. “And it’s the same with government, learning the democratic system. As you become a more educated citizen, you become more educated and how to solve problems. As you become a more educated citizen, you become more educated on how to solve problems.”
This year, seven winners were recognized as Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizens. One winner was selected from each participating school, including St. George Academy, which participated for the first time.
“This is a new record in terms of schools participating for the Color Country Chapter,” Valerie King, regent for the Daughters of the American Revolution’s Color County Chapter, said.
The chapter winner, Tyler, moves next to the state level to compete against the other Utah State Daughters of the American Revolution Society chapter winners.
King said the state winners receive a cash award and certificate and are eligible to move on to compete in the national competition, where they will compete against all the other state winners in the United States.
“The national winner wins a trip to Washington D.C. to receive the national cash award and certificate at NSDAR’s Continental Congress held annually at the end of June,” King said.
The contestants were given the topic of the essay moments before they sat down to write. They were only allowed to use a dictionary and a computer. The students had a time limit of two hours to write a 500-word essay.
The topic of the essay, “Our American heritage and our responsibility for preserving it,” included a focus question, “How will the essential actions of a good citizen, dependability, service, leadership and patriotism, meet the challenges that America faces in this decade?”
Tyler shared her essay at the luncheon with the audience.
“Upon examination of American history, one would quickly realize history is repeating itself this very decade,” Tyler wrote in her essay. “Political extremism continues to divide the nation, a lost generation is once again arising and the lower classes are suffering as they have in the past. Just as the sobering parts of history tend to repeat themselves, a pattern of good is also repeating itself. This pattern is down through the actions of citizens that display dependability, service, leadership and patriotism.”
Tyler said her experience was “cool” and she is glad the Daughters of the American Revolution encouraged high schoolers to learn history.
Tyler also said she is grateful to her teachers.
“I want to mention the importance of good teachers who have supported me to become educated,” Tyler said. “And who put these ideas in my head that I can create a positive change.”
Another winner, Mildred Barlow, from Water Canyon High School, said she enjoyed learning new things through the contest. For example, she learned that Constitution Day is on Sept. 15.
“I learned that the Daughters of the American Revolution has a bunch of charity programs and about their food bank, which is a big presence in our town in Hilldale,” Barlow said.
Barlow’s school counselor Wendy Wilkinson said it’s important for students to participate in learning more about what is available in their community and the scholarships offered.
2023 Good Citizen’s Essay Contest winners:
- Ella Tyler, Crimson Cliffs High School
- Millie Barlow, Water Canyon High School
- Jessica McCoy, Enterprise High School
- Sherlym Tahval, Dixie High School
- Gwendolyn Dooley, Snow Canyon High School
- Halle Brinkerhoff, Desert Hills High School
- Jocelyn Chavez, St. George Academy
Four of the seven students opted to move forward and participate in the Daughters of the American Revolution’s Good Citizens Essay Contest at the state level, including Ella Tyler, Crimson Cliffs High School, Millie Barlow, Water Canyon High School, Jessica McCoy, Enterprise High School, and Sherlym Tahval, Dixie High School.
Last year, the local chapter winner, Olivia Jenkins, also was the state winner. Jenkins is now a member of the Color Country Chapter.
Photo Gallery
Regent Karen Mangano and Good Citizens Committee Chair Julie Molen with the Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizens winners, parents and counselors, St. George, Utah, Feb. 14, 2023 | Photo courtesy of Valerie King, St. George News
Good Citizens Winner Jessica McCoy from Enterprise High School with father Thomas McCoy and Good Citizens Committee Chair Julie Molen at the Daughters of the Revolutionary War luncheon, St. George, Utah | Photo courtesy of Valerie King, St. George News
Gift Bag to Essay Chapter Winner Ella Tyler from Crimson Cliffs High School with $100 Check and book, St. George, Utah, Feb. 14, 2023 | Photo courtesy of Valerie King, St. George News
Desert Hills High School Counselor accepting award for Halle Brinkerhoff with Julie Molen of the Daughters of the American Revolution, St. George, Utah, Feb. 14, 2023 | Photo courtesy of Valeria King, St. George News
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