Every December, the Hendrick Hudson Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution gives Good Citizen awards to Columbia County high school seniors who have been selected by each of their schools as their DAR Good Citizen. Awardees for the 2023-2024 school year are, in alphabetical order by high schools:
Isabella Grace Wiseman, Chatham High School; Fathima Islam Chowdhury, Hudson High School; London James Exley, New Lebanon Jr/Sr High School; and Gianna Loretta Stang, Taconic Hills High School.
From these four students, London Exley was presented the DAR Good Citizen Award by the Hendrick Hudson chapter. The December 10th ceremony at the chapter house in Hudson was attended by the students, their families, chapter members, and State District III Director Elizabeth Goodermote.
The Good Citizens Award and Scholarship Contest of the Daughters of the American Revolution was created in 1934. It encourages and rewards qualities of good citizenship shown by high school seniors from accredited high schools all throughout the United States. These schools select students who demonstrate dependability, service, leadership, and patriotism in their homes, schools, and communities.
This year’s scholarship essay was entitled: “Our American Heritage and Our Responsibility for Preserving It: What are the civic responsibilities of a good citizen and why are these duties, activities, and behaviors important to the shaping of the America you hope to experience?” The essays were judged by a three-person panel of community members who are independent non-DAR individuals. All were retired teachers. They remarked that every one of this year’s essays was outstanding. London Exley’s winning essay closed with the following:
“It’s our responsibility as the next generation to change the world for the better. We can’t be bystanders in a world that so desperately needs help. To truly help the world, to help America, we must uphold the values of community, equity and equality wherever we go. Being good citizens is the first step in a long journey to bettering this world. Because a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”
“I believe that a good citizen must be someone who can see all the ugly parts of the world, but still strive to make their part of the world a better place for all. Things like community engagement, supporting local sports or even serving at the soup kitchen are all things that show a good citizen’s qualities. It’s important to do these things out of altruism, not selfishness or vanity. A good citizen, I think, is someone who does good, just for the sake of doing good.
Each of the four students received a certificate, a monetary award, a Good Citizen’s pin, and a wallet-size card. Good Citizens Committee Chair MaryAnne Lee said, “The Hendrick Hudson Chapter offers its congratulations to these deserving students for all their accomplishments and for being chosen as winners of the Good Citizen contest for their schools. Special congratulations go to London Exley for receiving the Hendrick Hudson NSDAR Chapter Good Citizen Award.”
The Hendrick Hudson Chapter of the DAR was founded in 1895. The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution is a nonpartisan organization welcoming eligible women without regard to race, creed, or religion, and its mission is to promote historic preservation, education, and patriotism. The Hendrick Hudson Chapter includes more than 130 members who trace their lineage back to a patriot in the American Revolution–whether serving as soldier, shopkeeper, or seamstress. In accordance with the National Society DAR, members work to perpetuate the memory and spirit of the women and men who achieved American independence, to promote the development of an enlightened public opinion, and to foster patriotic citizenship.
The chapter owns and maintains its meeting house, the Historic Robert Jenkins House, at 113 Warren Street in Hudson. The chapter and the chapter house can be accessed at hudson-dar.org, facebook.com/HudsonDAR, instagram.com/robertjenkinshouse, hendrickhudsonchapterdar@gmail.com, and (518) 828-9764.
Hendrick Hudson Chapter, NSDAR 