Winners listed in DAR U.S. history essay contest

ORONO – Three youngsters honored recently in the Daughters of the American Revolution’s American History Essay Contest are from the Greater Bangor area.

They were among pupils in grades five through eight who first had to win area contests sponsored by local DAR chapters. The topic for this year’s contest was: “As editor of the Philadelphia Gazette, interview at least two signers of the Declaration of Independence and write an article for the July 5, 1775 edition.”

Winners were announced April 27 at the spring DAR conference in Orono. They were:

First place: grade eight, Meredith French, Bangor Christian School, sponsored by Frances Dighton Williams Chapter; grade seven, Quinn Dillon of Exeter, Dexter Middle School, Frances Dighton Williams Chapter; grade six, Cameron McKee, St. Mary’s School, Augusta, Koussinoc Chapter; grade five, Alexander Frankey, East Belfast School, Penobscot Expedition Chapter.

Second place: grade eight: Gregory Henrikson, Bath Middle School, Colonel Dummer Sewall Chapter; grade seven: Emily Wilkinson, Robbinston School, Hannah Weston Chapter; grade six: Nathaniel Simpson, Cornerstone Academy, East Machias, Hannah Weston Chapter; grade five: Brianna Reed, Woodside Elementary, Topsham, Topsham-Brunswick Chapter.

Third Place: grade eight: Christopher Simpson, Cornerstone Academy, Hannah Weston Chapter; grade seven: Andrew Allen, St. Mary’s, Augusta, Koussinoc Chapter; grade five: Brianna Morrissey, Glenburn Elementary, Esther Eayres Chapter.

In addition, a home-schooled 12th-grader from Clinton was named the state winner in the DAR Christopher Columbus Contest. Page Davis was chosen for her essay on the topic, “If you were to interview Christopher Columbus and John Glenn, what differences and similarities would you expect to find between them?” Davis was sponsored by Silence Howard Hayden Chapter.

In the DAR Good Citizen Contest, Katie Brydon of Hampden Academy placed third. She is the daughter of Robert and Kathleen Brydon. First place went to Nicole Hart of Lincolnville, and Sarah Clapp of Blue Hill placed second.