BANGOR – Several area youngsters received state awards in the Daughters of the American Revolution American History Essay Contest. Awards were presented at the spring conference in Portland, with State Regent Polly Bartow of Fryeburg presiding.

Pupils in grades five to eight wrote on the topic, “A Letter from Valley Forge: Winter, 1777-1778.” Kristin Dillon of Exeter placed first in the Northeast Division, comprising the New England states and New York. State winners were:

. Grade eight, first place, Jonathan Pike of Corinth, Bangor Christian School, sponsored by Frances Dighton Williams Chapter; second, Therese Couture of Waterville; third, Ashley Hibbard of Old Orchard Beach.

. Grade seven, first, Peter Swegart of Rome; second, Jillian French of Glenburn, Bangor Christian School, Frances Dighton Williams Chapter; third, Nathaniel Simpson of Whiting.

. Grade six, first, Mary Couture of Waterville; second, Brian Carville of Augusta; third, Alexandra Sullivan of Penobscot.

. Grade five, first, Kristin Dillon of Exeter, Exeter Consolidated School, Frances Dighton Williams Chapter; second, Timothy Smith of Glenburn, Esther Eayres Chapter; third, Santina Snow of Waterville.

Donna Farnham of Oakland was named Member of the Year for services to veterans. The state DAR Good Citizen was Joy M. Longfellow of Farmingdale. Jennifer D. Brown of Monticello placed second. Sara Rafuse of Montville placed third.

State winner for the Christopher Columbus Essay Contest was Amanda Richard of Parsonsfield. Second was Daniel Swegart of Rome.

The topic of the contest was “How did the voyages of Christopher Columbus express the general political, social and scientific outlook of the 15th century?”

Silence Howard Hayden Chapter of Waterville was named outstanding chapter for the Northeast Division by the DAR Revitalization Committee. Elizabeth Wadsworth Chapter of Portland received an award for the most American flags distributed.