Smith-McMillan Chapter DAR Good Citizens Honored

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. 18. 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 at 2 p.m. 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, Emily Shaw who introduced guest speaker, Julia Patterson. Julia, former Good Citizens Award recipient, addressed the award winners with an encouraging word about Admiral Jim Stockdale and the Stockdale Paradox – which ultimately is a balancing act between being optimistic while facing the reality and truth of your situation. He never lost faith as a POW at the Hanoi Hilton from 1965 to 1973.

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.

Each winner was asked to participate by drafting an essay about 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?”

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.

Jonathan Marshall 

The DAR Good Citizen who has advanced to the State Level is Jonathan Curtis Marshall, son of Dawn Marie Marshall. A senior at Giddings High School, Jonathan plans to attend a military academy and follow in the footsteps of his dad and brothers. His school activities include serving as county delegate and “Justice of the Peace” to Texas Boys State; Rotary Leadership Summit attendee and named “Camper of the Day” his junior year; and Class President grades 9-12. Jonathan’s services in the Interact Club, grades 10-12 include the planning and execution of “Together We are Better” campaign, the planning and execution of Wreaths Across America for Lee County, research and implementation of International Projects; represented GHS students at the Giddings Rotary Club meetings; planned and implemented scholarship fund raisers and was the Veteran’s local contact person.

Jonathan was in Beta Club grades 10-12 and served as Vice President his senior year with duties including closely working with the President, record keeping of club hours, and running the meeting in absence of the President. He was a member of Christ First his sophomore through senior years and delivered prayers and verses at all events, organized annual Pray at the Pole and start of school prayer meeting. Jonathan served four years in Student Council, two years on the GHS Care Team grades 10 and 11, and the GHS Computer Science Academic Teah in grades 11 and 12 serving as team captain his senior year. His athletic activities include Varsity Baseball grades 9-12 with honors including All-Athletic Academics and team captain; Varsity Cross Country in 12th grade withAll-Athletic Academics and team captain honors; Varsity Golf in both 11 and 12 grades and serving as team captain with All Academics honor.

One Community Service Project in grades 11 and 12 was Wreaths Across America where he planned, organized, and implemented the wreath-laying of over 350 graves of Veterans in Lee County. He joined the Black History Club to clear and prepare the grave sites of over 30 African American veterans that had recently been discovered. Jonathan had many responsibilities and duties while serving his junior and senior years on the Lee County Fair Committee. He was Veterans Organization School Coordinator in 11th and 12th grades where he organized the cleaning of veterans graves around the county, helped plan and raise over $30,000 for the Veterans of Lee County; Relay for Life in 11th and 12 grades setting up and tearing down as well as recruiting teen volunteers; United States Air Force Academy Summer Seminar which has a 13% acceptance rate; and United States Coast Guard Academy Aim Summer Program that has a 14.2 acceptance rate. He has been a member of the GHS UIL Computer Science team in grades 11-12 and plans to serve in the U.S. Armed Forces and make Computer Science a big part of his career plans.

Jonathan wants to carry on the family’s military tradition of his father who has served 26 years in the U.S. Air Force and his three brothers currently serving in the U S military. “We Americans must do what is right even when no one is there to witness it; that is what integrity is ... holding ourselves to the highest standard also comes with respecting one another, even in the face of conflicting values ... Respecting where others come from and their ideas will help this country flourish, but accepting these differences sets America apart. ... If we, as citizens, cannot accept other ideas because of our own bias, we will never fully live up to our title as ‘The Land of the Free.’ This country is bigger than just one culture, and we should embrace this to help America reach its full potential.”

Haylie Good 

Schulenburg High School

Haylie Marie Goode is the daughter of Charlotte Ann Bigham and plans to attend the University of Texas at Austin studying chemical engineering. A senior at Schulenburg High School, Haylie’s high school activities include Varsity Volleyball: State Qualifier, Academic All District; Varsity Basketball: District Champions, Area finalist, “Player of the Year” award, academic All District; Varsity Softball: Regional Quarterfinalist, “Hustle” Award, “MVP” Award, “Ken Bigham Jr.” Award, Academic All District; Varsity Track: Regional Qualifier, Regional Finalist, Academic All District; Varsity Tennis: Mixed Doubles 3rd Place District, Girls Singles 3rd Place District, Academic All District; Girls Athletics: “Whatever it Takes” Award. Her academic awards include Outstanding Awards in all the following: World Geography Honors, Spanish I Honors, Biology Honors, English II Honors, Chemistry Honors, World History Honors, Spanish II, Algebra II, Physics, and Pre-Cal Honors.

Haylie participated in UIL Science, Mathematics, Student Council, National Honor Society as Secretary, Prom Committee, High School Yearbook Staff, and Schulenburg FFA Greenhand Degree. Haylie regularly volunteers at Arts for Rural Texas after school art and summer art camp and works with Turtle Wing kids. She further serves the community through NHS and Student Council endeavors including food drives for the area food pantry, participates in “penny war” where the donations raised goes to the animal shelter, toy drives, and Turtle Wing’s “Boo around the Block” and SHS “Trick or Treat Around the Track” for younger children. She keeps stats during games and helps organize events when volunteering for Cen Tex Storm Non-Profit Baseball Program. Haylie rounds out her busy life by working as a file clerk at the Bingham Law Firm in Schulenburg. “Being a good citizen and acting on the civic responsibilities involved are important because it is your chance to make a difference and create a world you would be proud to live in. Everyone wants to be proud of where they come from and proud to say, ‘I am an American,’ but America is not perfect. Every person, place or thing has flaws, but being a good citizen and acting on your civic responsibilities can help America get one step closer to perfect.”

Ella Pineda 

La Grange High School

Ella Claire Busch Pineda is the daughter of Bonnie Busch and John Pineda, and plans to attend the University of Texas, major at the Mc-Combs School of Business, go to law school and become a corporate attorney. She is a senior at La Grange High School and participates in the following activities: three years in Interact Club and Historian her Junior year; three years as elected class treasurer; German Club and placed 3rd in German poetry for the Sprach-Fest as well as qualifying for State in German Poetry and finishing in the top 10; State Qualifier and 4th place at State Level for Traditional Gingerbread House for the Texas State German Contest; Two years as 1st Place Team in UIL Current Events where she was Regional and State Qualifier; UIL Ready Writing three years and Regional Qualifier her third year; three years in Varsity golf placing 1st in District and two years as Regionals Qualifier; Junior Varsity and Varsity Cheerleader; Yearbook Staff and Editor; inducted into Mu Alpha Theta Mathematics Honor Society; attained 2nd Place in Soil and Water Conservation Essay for Area III. When she’s not playing golf as a hobby with her father, she can be found working at Honey Bunny’s Boutique in La Grange. “The longevity of America’s prosperity and well-being lies in the hands of the younger generations such as me. We must take it upon ourselves to continue living the legacy of pride and dignity that this nation was built under. This includes carrying out our civic responsibilities such as voting, paying taxes, and obeying the laws.”

Kayme Schley 

Fayetteville High School

Kayme Lynn Schley is the daughter of Rachel Ann and Daniel Wayne Schley and hopes to attend Texas A&M University for a degree in Education and Human Development. She is a senior at Fayetteville High School and her activities include: three years at First Team All-District and Academic All District in Volleyball winning State Champions in 2021. She earned 1-A TGCA All State Team Middle Blocker in both 2021 and 2022. In Basketball, Kayme earned District Newcomer of the Year in 2020, and First Team All-District and Academic All District for three years. She earned TGCA 1A All State Team in 2022. In UIL Academics, Kayme placed 4th at State in 1A Ready Writing in 2022. Her FFA honors include 3rd place Creed Speaking at Horizon District in 2022; 4th place Creed Speaking at Area XI in 2022; Lone Star Degree at State Convention in 2022; and 1st place Creed Speaking at Horizon District in 2023.

In her Area of Special Interest Showing Barrows, Kayme earned 8th place Duroc at San Antonio Livestock Show in 2021; Reserve Champion Berkshire Barrow at Houston Livestock Show in 2021; Grand Champion Market Lamb at FCJLS in 2021; 5th place Hampshire at San Antonio Livestock Show in 2022; 2nd place Berkshire at Houston Livestock Show in 2022; 2nd place Cross at San Antonio Stock Show in 2023; 10 place Cross at Houston Livestock Show in 2023; Reserve Champion Swine at FCJLS in 2023; and Grand Champion Swine at FCJLS in 2023. Her high school offices include: FFA Reporter (2020), Treasurer (2021), Vice President (2022), and Treasurer (2023). In 4-H she was Treasurer her freshman and sophomore years, Reporter her junior year and President her senior year.

Representing her Class, Kayme was Vice President in 9th grade, Secretary in 10th grade, Event Planner in 11th grade, and Secretary her senior year. “Good citizens strive to practice their civic duties as well as bring about change to their country. In order to shape the country into a safe, honest, and incredible American which I hope to experience, it is important to vote, participate in community service, and follow the laws. By practicing these duties, behaviors, and activities there will undoubtedly be a positive outcome on the future of our country.”

Aaliyah 

Mendez 

Flatonia High School

Aaliyah Nohealani Mendez is the daughter of Maria Imelda Mendez and hopes to become an architect. She is a senior at Flatonia High School and her activities include National Honor Society from 20222024 and President 2023-2024; FFA 2021-2024 and Reporter 2023-2024; Interact Club 2020-2024 and Secretary 2022-2023 and President 20232024; FCA: Leadership Council 2023-2024; Varsity Powerlifting as Lifter 2020-2024. Aaliyah’s Honors and Awards include: “A” Honor Roll 2020-2024; Top 2: Class of 2024; Honor Graduate 2024 with 4.0 GPA; “F” Award in 2023; President’s Gold Award 2021-2024. Aaliyah is responsible, hard-working, kind, honest, and detail-oriented and her work experience includes babysitting for two families with three children each. Aaliyah cooks for and entertains the children, does cleaning, and ensures the general needs of the children. She currently holds 12 hours credits at Blinn Community College and six hours at McMurry University in dual credit courses. Her Community Service Hours include a total of 81 hours of VBS combined at both the Flatonia Baptist Church and SMACK Flatonia Baptist Church; and a total of 38 hours volunteering at the Lions Club Pie Auction, Texas Independence Relay, Oak Manor Nursing Home, Crawfest, Highway Cleanups and Flatonia Little Leage Football. “America as a whole has forgotten the value of our country. The U. S. was built from the ground up by citizens who had a genuine love for their country and its people, but our society has lost the primordial love the Founding Fathers once had for America. The patriotism of the American people has truly deteriorated, and it has lost its meaning over the years. During the World Wars, patriotism was at its peak. Young men were ready to put their lives on the line for their country and its people, and women were prepared to take care of things back home. If the American citizens of the early 1900s were still alive today, they would be disappointed to see what America has become. These men and women were the true definition of good citizens: they had a selfless heart and a true love for their country.”

Magali Salinas 

RT-Carmine High School

Magali Salinas is a senior at Round Top-Carmine High School and the daughter of Luciana and Secundino Salinas. She plans to go to Blinn College and transfer to Texas A&M. Magali was awarded MVP during her freshman through junior years where the Varsity Cross County team won District Champions, Varsity Cross Country Regional Qualifiers and were State Qualifiers her junior year; her senior year the Varsity Cross Country won District and were Regional Qualifiers. In Volleyball, Magali was Varsity Volleyball All-District Defensive MVP and Academic All District her freshman year as her team finished as Regional semi-Finalists; 10th grade she earned Varsity Volleyball Defensive MVP as her team advanced to the Varsity Volleyball TGCA All-State; 11th grade, Magali earned Varsity Volleyball All-District Defensive MVP and Academic All-District as her team advanced to the Varsity Volleyball TGCA All-State title and she was recognized as the Fayette County Athlete of the Week for RT-C Volleyball/ Cross Country in both her junior and senior years and saw her team through to the Varsity Volleyball Regional Semi-Finalist title in 11th grade and Volleyball All-State Second Team and Volleyball THSCA Super Elite Team her senior year. Magali’s Varsity Track advanced to the Regional Qualifiers during her freshman through junior seasons. Her tennis career includes Varsity Tennis District Champions and Regional Qualifiers in Girls Doubles her freshman through junior year and awarded Varsity Tennis MVP. She was Varsity Baseball Manager her sophomore and junior years and Regional Baseball Semi-Finalists her sophomore year. Magali’s Varsity Basketball experiences her senior year included District Champions and Basketball All-District Second Team. Her junior year, Magali earned Varsity Golf District Runner-Up and Regional Qualifier – Team.

Academically, Magali has been on the All-A Honor Roll and has participated in UIL Creative and Editorial Writing, and Calculator Applications and as a BETA Club Member - Biomedical. She participates in FCCLA as Treasurer and was awarded FCCLA Outstanding Member and Top Seller. She earned the Western Art Gold Medal at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo her freshman year, was a Western Art Finalist both 10th and 11th grades and earned the Western Art Special Merit Award her senior year. Magali has participated in FFA her sophomore through senior years, Student Council Representative her junior year and Vice President as a senior. Magali is a Junior Ambassador at Festival Hill. Magali also attended Girl’s State in the summer of 2023. She volunteers at the town Library in the summer and at the Kids S. E. E. Program and now has been promoted to a paid position in addition to still volunteering there. “Luckily my community, family, and friends have shown me how these civic responsibilities contribute so much to my image of our America. MyAmerica shows citizens who love their neighbors, people who help in their community, who take into consideration voting not caring how big or small it is, keeping a good clean yard, helping by cleaning up their community, and most importantly being respectful toward our flag and troops. These important responsibilities help shape the beautiful country of America, which I am extremely lucky to be a part of love experiencing every day.”