Area Students Receive DAR Good Citizen Awards

The Smith-McMillan Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution honored the school winners of the Good Citizens Award at the annual Presidents Day Tea on Sunday, Feb. 19.

The ceremony was held at the home of Jeanne Schilling in Fayetteville with parents and guests joining the members for this occasion. The special meeting was called to order by Regent Pamela Burke, and after the DAR Ritual and a brief business meeting, Regent Burke turned the meeting over to the Good Citizen’s Committee Chairperson, Kathy Schatte who introduced guest speaker, Dr. Janet K. Jacobs.

The DAR Good Citizen Awards are presented annually by each DAR chapter. Each of the students named as a DAR Good Citizen was selected from the senior class to represent their school based on four qualities: Dependability, Service, Leadership, and Patriotism.

Each of these four qualities was applied during a stringent review of each candidate’s high school activities, grades, home activities, community activities, and their plans for the future. Each winner was asked to participate by writing an essay about Our American Heritage and Our Responsibility for Preserving It: “How will the essential actions of a good citizen (dependability, service, leadership, and patriotism) meet the challenges that America faces in this decade?”

Independent judges reviewed the winners from each school to determine an overall area winner. All students were awarded a DAR Good Citizens Jewelry Pin and Certificate, and monetary gifts of $150 each - with the first place winner advancing to State level competition and receiving a $250 monetary gift.

The DAR Good Citizen who has advanced to the State Level is Tadan Cole Alvarado, son of Michael and Tabatha Alvarado. Taden, a senior at Flatonia High School, plans to attend Texas State Technical College for Diesel Equipment Technology-Heavy Truck Specialization. His school activities include Varsity Powerlifting: 2021 Regionals, 2nd place and 5th place at State and 2022 first place Regionals and SHW State Championship. Tadan’s Varsity Football accomplishments include 2019 Regional Qualifiers, 2020 and 2021 Area Qualifiers and he was Varsity Baseball Manager, Spring 2020 and Spring 2021.

He participated in his Flatonia FFA Chapter, Fall 2019-Spring 2023; Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Fall 2020-Spring 2023; National Honor Society, Spring 2021-Spring 2023; and Flatonia Interact Club, Fall 2019-Spring 2023.

Tadan’s awards and honors include Super Heavyweight Division 4 State Powerlifting Champion 2022, Flatonia Czhilispiel Parade Marshall 2022, Bulldog of the Month 2021, and Academic All District in Football 2020 and 2021.

His community service includes volunteering at Flatonia Baptist Church for 350 hours as Youth Leader from 2019 to 2023, Vacation Bible School 2022 and Summer Music and Arts Camp for Kids in 2022. He volunteered in the Flatonia Interact Club with Highway Cleanup and providing truck and trailer for Czhilispiel Float, 2021, the Wayne Hunt Memorial Scholarship Foundation, and the Flatonia Young Farmers with Football Concession Stand.

Tadan’s work experience includes general labor with the Flatonia Livestock Commission, Don Mikulenka Custom Builders, Inc., and general labor for four private citizens of the community.

Tadan Alvarado exemplifies the qualities of dependability, service, leadership and patriotism not only with his future goals and his community, school and work opportunities but also within his Good Citizens essay writing several explicit examples of essential actions of a good citizen meeting this decade’s challenges in America. He sums it up with “Numerous people help to the best of their ability and want this country to be at the highest peak it’s ever been. I’m excited to be in this beautiful country I get to call home. I hope to have many individuals help the community and nation, and keep the generosity alive for the next generations to come. Being a good citizen has many more positive outlooks on life than anyone would have thought. Always try to be the best person you can ever be, and never settle for less.”

Reagan Hinze, daughter of Karla Hinze, is a senior at Giddings High School. Reagan plans to attend Texas A&M University to pursue a major in Biomedical Sciences and be accepted into dental school to become a pediatric dentist.

Her high school activities include serving the offices within her four years in Interact Club as Secretary, Vice President and President. She was a class representative for four years serving as Secretary of Student Council her junior year; Giddings FFA for three years serving as Vice President and President; Beta Club (National Honors Club) two years and served as President her senior year; Leo Club four years; Spanish Club four years; Giddings Varsity Cheer from 2019-2023 with All American honor her Junior and Senior year and Captain her senior year.

Reagan’s extracurricular activities include Serbin 4-H four years serving as Secretary her sophomore year and President her junior and senior year; St. Paul’s Church in Serbin volunteer: Fried Chicken Dinner, Serbin Picnic, and Wendish Fest; Bec’s Blessings Nursing Home; Wreaths Across America; Santa’s Workshop and Read or Treat; Adopt-A-Family providing Christmas gifts to needy families and National Kindness Day.

In her Good Citizens essay, Reagan references American Revolutionary Patriot, Molly Pitcher, who assisted her husband by quenching the thirst of many soldiers and cooling the cannons by retrieving water from the spring and, when her husband collapsed, took over his cannon until they prevailed in the battle. Tying Molly’s heroic and patriotic service to todays issues of gun violence, global warming, and mental health, Reagan synthesizes and addresses how the essential actions of a good citizen through dependability, service, leadership and patriotism meet the challenges that American faces in this decade. She closes her essay with “While the challenges in America will never end, as long as there are good citizens ready to serve, there will always be a hope for the future of our country.”

Brooklyn Danielle Jaeger, daughter of Jennifer and Clint Jaeger, is a senior at Fayetteville High School. She plans on playing volleyball for four years at Texas A&M University- Corpus Christi and pursue a bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology with goals of becoming a physical therapist and coaching organized volleyball or becoming a PE coach and work with children.

Her high school activities and awards include Varsity Volleyball: both 2019 and 2020 District 26-1A Offensive MVP, Academic All-District, 1A Region 4 Finalist and 1A TGCA All-State team. In 2021 she was District 261A MVP and Academic All-District, and Brooklyn’s volleyball team won the 1A State Championship Tournament where Reagan was recognized as MVP, 2021 1A-4A TGCA Volleyball Player of the Year. In 2022 she was on the 2022 AVCA All America Watchlist and made the 3,000 Career Kill Club, 2019-2021 AVCA Phenom List.

Brooklyn’s Varsity Basketball awards include: District 30-1A District Champions where she was District 30-1A MVP and Academic All-District; 2020 1A Region 4 Semi-Finalist, 2020 1A TGCA All-State Team, 2020 1A TABC All-Region Team, 2021 District 29-1A District Champions where she was MVP and Academic All-District; 2021 1A Area Finalist; 2021 1A TGCA All-State Team; 2021 1A TABC All-Region Team; 2022 District 29-1A District Champions; 2022 District 29-1A MVP, Academic All-District; 2022 1A Region 4 Finalist; 2022 1A TGCA All-State Team; 2022 1A TABC All-State Team.

Brooklyn was awarded 4th place in Varsity Track in the 100m and 200m dash at the 2021 State Track Meet, 2nd place in 100m and 200m dash and 6th place in long jump at the 2022 State Track Meet, and 2022 1A All-State Team.

Brooklyn’s leadership roles include Varsity Baseball Manager 2020-2023; NHS Vice-President; Leo Club four year membership; 2022 and 2023 Yearbook Co-Editor and Editor.

Brooklyn’s Good Citizens essay reflects that she, as a role-model in volleyball to the young girls in elementary and middle school, finds that they look up to her and she sees an opportunity to inspire through her everyday life and actions of community service. “We must be negative if we allow it. Our youth is our future, and if we want a hopeful future, we must guide them through their journey with dependability, service, leadership, and patriotism.”

Keslyn Ray Davis, daughter of Mindy and Mark Davis is a senior at La Grange High School. She plans to attend Mays School of Business at Texas A&M University where she will study business and marketing. Keslyn plans to graduate with a master’s degree in business and aspires to become a chief marketing director for a large corporation.

Her high school activities and awards include Class Officer: Secretary 2020-2023; Member of the National Honor Society 2021-2023, Secretary 2022-2023; Mu Alpha Theta, 2022-2023; Delta Epsilon Phi, 2021-2023; Interact Club 2020-2023, Secretary 2021-2022, President 20222023; German Club 20192023; Leo Club 2021-2022; Student Council, Secretary 2021-2022, President 20222023; Fellowship of Christian Athletes 2019-2023, Group Leader 2021-2023; UIL Journalism: Headline writing- 3rd place, regional qualifier 2022; Feature Writing competition - 6th place district 2022; High School Yearbook Design Editor 2022-2023; Houston Livestock Art Show: Finalist, 2019 and 2021, Gold Medalist 2020; Sprachfest: Original model competition - 1st place State, 2020; Folk Dance competitor 2022-2023. Athletics: Freshman Team Volleyball, captain 2019; Varsity Basketball- 2nd team All-District, Area champion 2021; District defensive MVP 2022; Varsity Mascot - UCA; All-American 2021 and 2022, UCA; Leadership Award 2021 and 2022.

Extracurricular activities: Online sales and social media manager at Prickly Pear and DIY Studio; Texas Women’s League event photographer; Emily Fritsch Memorial Scholarship live auction volunteer; First Baptist youth group member.

Keslyn writes that, “If everyone exhibited the four qualities of a DAR Good Citizen, the social aspect of the world would be near perfect…I have strived to treat others as I would want to be treated, to be a dependable friend and student, serve my community at any given opportunity, and take leadership roles and responsibilities in many extracurricular activities and groups, and show patriotism to my clubs, school, and nation.”

Guest speaker for the occasion was Dr. Janet K. Jacobs, a former newspaper editor, reporter and professor praised the students for their great character and merit to represent their schools as DAR Good Citizens. She reminded them, “Do not forget what you’ve been given. Just remember— pay it forward.” Dr. Jacobs made historical reference to “Republican Motherhood,” from which the first American female academies were founded in the 1790’s after American women acclaiming that, if the republic were to succeed, women must be schooled in virtue so they could teach their children. She referred to an excerpt of Benjamin Franklin, “Each citizen who participates in community affairs is keeping democracy alive. Every act of mercy and helpfulness, every word spoken for freedom, keeps the democratic spirit alive…Let us therefore resolve to give to our successors a stronger republic than was passed on to us.”