Daughters of the American Revolution
Amelia Island Chapter
Contact:Lynn Leisy, Regent
[email protected]
May 7, 2018 3:00 p.m.
Amelia Island Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution recently held its annual awards ceremony at the Amelia Island Museum of History. Recipients and guests were greeted at the door by the officers of the Vaughan-Latham Society, Children of the American Revolution.
Amelia Island Chapter member Linda Davis stands with Olivia Schopf, Vice President; Landon Alexander, Treasurer; and Aislin Alexander, President of the Vaughan-Latham Society.
Jean Worley, Chair of the DAR Good Citizens Committee, began the awards ceremony in a packed Baker Hall by recognizing the student from each of the four Nassau County high schools who received the Good Citizens Award. Marvin Portillo read his essay, which has been submitted to FSSDAR for consideration of the Florida State award. The certificates and pins were accompanied by a $200 check from the chapter.
Regent Lynn Leisy stands next to Jada Conner, Hilliard Middle-Senior High School. Walker Bean from Fernandina Beach High School is in the middle, and Marvin Portillo from Yulee High School stands next to Jean Worley. Savannah Shott, West Nassau High School, was unable to attend.
Next came the winners of the American History Essay competition, which is open to children in the fifth through the eighth grades. Each winner was presented with $50, and each runner-up received $25.
The fifth grade winner was Sebastian Cancerez, Callahan Intermediate School; and runner-i[ was Jude Bailey of Hilliard Elementary School. The sixth grade winner was Keira Richardson, Fernandina Beach Middle School and the runner-up was Avery Bolt, Fernandina Beach Middle School. The seventh grade winner was Carolyne Tyson Guess, Fernandina Beach Middle School and the runner-up was Adrian Duncan, Saint Michael Academy. The eighth grade winner was Robert Clay Henson, Yulee Middle School and runner-up was Raegan Lutzen, Yulee Middle School
Regent Lynn Leisy, on the left, and Chair Carolyne James-Rudd, far right, stand with the essay winners. On the front row are Sebastian Cancerez, Jude Bailey, and Keira Richardson. Back row are Robert Clay Henson, Raegan Lutzen, Carolyne Tyson Guess, Adrian Duncan, and Avery Bolt.
Marie Santry presented the Amelia Island NSDAR $1,000 Scholarships to one senior from each of the four high schools in Nassau County. Seniors Joymarie Pedrosa-Negron from Yulee High School, Abby Hamilton Fernandina Beach High School, and Hannah Bennett from West Nassau High School were this year’s recipients.
Regent Lynn Leisy stands next to Joymarie Pedrosa-Negron, and Abby Hamilton stands next to Past Regent Marie Santry. Hannah Bennett was unable to attend and will be presented her scholarship at West Nassau’s Senior Awards Assembly in May.
The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution is the largest women’s service organization in the world and contributes over one million volunteer hours a year. The almost 200 members of the Amelia Island Chapter contribute approximately 5,000 volunteer hours and $4,000 in scholarships and awards in Nassau County each year.