Daughters of the American Revolution Chapter Awards Scholarships to Area Seniors
T he Smith-McMillan Chapter, NSDAR congratulates the winners of the Chapter’s annual DAR Scholarships. The winner of the DAR Shirley K. Pyburn $1,500 Scholarship is Ella Nygren, a senior at La Grange High School and the daughter of Tracy and Erik Nygren. Ella plans to attend Texas A&M University and pursue a major in Public Health with a master’s degree in Speech Language and become a Pediatric Speech Therapist.
Winning $1,000 each for the Smith-McMillan NSDAR Chapter Scholarship are Natalia Soto and Summer Sodek. Summer Sodek, a senior at Flatonia High School, is the daughter of Leigh Ann and Christopher Sodek. She will be attending Texas Woman’s University and plans to major in Business and Sports Management while continuing her basketball career. After college, her goal is to work in the sports industry such as athletic administration, sports marketing, or coaching to help create more opportunities and support for women in athletics like those who supported her.
Natalia Soto, a senior at La Grange High School, is the daughter of Martha Reyes. She plans to attend Texas A&M University and major in Public Health with a minor in Business, then nursing school later to become a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) nurse.
The 2026 DAR essay topic, “How old were you when you first realized what made America-- and being an American, unique?” In the 2026 year that America celebrates its 250th birthday, the essays of the winners significantly warrant reflection and convey personal experiences shaping their perspectives of our Country.
Ella Nygren’s essay:
From a very early age I knew that America was special. Saying the National Anthem every morning brought me overwhelming pride, but also respect for my country and how it came to be. Through tragedy and triumph, this country has only grown stronger and more unified. While I have always known that America is special, it wasn’t until I was 10 years old, standing in the One World Trade Center in New York City, when I was overcome with awe for this land.
As you know, on September 11, 2001, the North and South towers of the World Trade Center were attacked by two hijacked planes with another plan headed for the Pentagon and a second on course to the White House. As the towers collapsed, thousands of people lost their lives, while hundreds of people ran towards danger, risking theirs saving others. It is through this horror and the unthinkable that I came to the revelation of just how special this country is.
As my family entered the Memorial, you could sense the cries of America. I can only describe it as a mother weeping for her children. We moved throughout the museum seeing original parts of the towers, facts about that day, and then finally a dark room remembering the lives of those killed on 9/11. I took a seat in the room and before I could take it all in, a voice began to speak. It was a phone call of a husband to his wife, giving her all his love as he broke down telling her his plane was going down. How do you hear that and not realize how unique America is? That we can go through the unimaginable and somehow come out on the other side with only increased nationalism.
I thought going in there would only bring me tears, and don’t get me wrong, it did that, but there was more to it. For the first time I truly understood how strong America is. To experience grief in its most extreme form and still rise from the ashes to defend their motherland. This building was a response. The One World Trade Center exists because something devastating happened and instead of leaving a void, people chose to rebuild-deliberately, defiantly, and with purpose. That decision reflects a core pillar of the United States: the refusal to be defined by tragedy.
America did not become the country she is without decades of learning how to rebuild and fight on despite loss. 9/11 is only one of hundreds of examples. Every country goes through their own tragedies, but it is how you choose to respond that defines you. Will you sulk or will you rise? This is what made me realize how incredibly lucky we are to live in the United States. We do not settle when we are misdefined or taken advantage of. We join together, unified, and fight back until justice prevails.
I will never understand how people are capable of such evil, but what I do know is that I can count on Americans to be the good in this storm of evil. While I may not have been alive during 9/11, this event and the remembrance of it has created me into a proud American citizen who know that her country is not weak and will not be defied. As I stood at the bottom of the One World Trade Center, it hit me that this ground has seen the worst, and yet, something still rose. Not out of ease or convenience, but out of sheer will. Americans refused to let tragedy be the end of the story. We do not back down, we rise to the occasion.
Natalia Soto’s essay:
Growing up, I never understood why my family left their home countries to come to the United States. I knew what the “American Dream” was, but I never fully grasped it. In my thought process, I looked up pictures of El Salvador. Google showed the pretty beaches, the food, and culture, but never the real reality. The reality of poverty, cartels, violence, and landfills all over the country. But I thought to myself, what is so great about America that my family was not satisfied?
At the age of 8, my family took me on a trip to El Salvador in 2016. Violence, gang members, and the country was screaming with poverty. I remember seeing things I should have never known. Having to wear clothes with no brand labels, because if they did, they would make you give them to them. Understand that you cannot wear jewelry unless you want to die. I realized that life in the United States was more than my family members who started behind.
In America, I had access to a better education, safety, clean water, and more opportunities that I would have taken for granted. I was able to walk outside without holding my mother’s hand. I was able to have a future without limitations. In El Salvador, freedom was there by the government, but everyone knew that each block was run a gang. Their lives were determined by where they lived and who controlled it.
The trip changed my viewpoint on my family’s decision to move here. They didn’t leave their beloved country because they hated it. They left because they strived for more. For their future, for me. Seeking stability, safety, and a country run by leaders who wanted the best for their citizens. The “American Dream” is just a phrase, one says, but it has a deeper meaning. No one understands the full meaning unless you go see for yourself and put yourself into their shoes. It means having opportunities that can change for generations.
America is just different. It is unique because it is not a perfect country, but it helps bring new possibilities. The possibility of a change in the world. Open new doors with windows that bring connections. Education does create the path for life. No matter what your race, color, or sexuality, we all come from different backgrounds to come together to build something better for families. America represents the hope of life, the hope of making sacrifices, and the chance to fulfill their dreams.
Looking back, I am grateful for the changes El Salvador has made. But I am more proud to be an American. The courage my mother showed is why I am able to write this. To show that the history America brought us to is the reason why many look up to this country. It opens eyes to give a deeper appreciation for the history we have in America. The America Dream is about forgetting where your roots began and striving to be a fruitful tree.
Summer Sodek’s essay:
I was ten years old when I first started to understand what made being an American unique. A collection of experiences in my lifetime shaped my perspective on America. My mom, Leigh Ann Sodek, is a history teacher, and my grandpa, Mike Michalka, was one too. Because of them, I was constantly surrounded by stories, and we never missed an opportunity to stop at a historical site. They constantly told stories about Texas history and American history. I have also always been educated on our family history thanks to them. They helped me realize that history can be learned in a classroom, but it can also be personal.
One moment that has always stayed with me is when my grandpa took my older brother and me to learn about the Black Bean Episode from the Mier Expedition. My Grandpa is a great storyteller, so I could almost feel the fear that the soldiers must have had when reaching into a jar, knowing that one choice could mean life or death. Seventeen men drew black beans and were executed. Even at ten years old, I could feel the weight of that moment. It made me realize that the freedoms I have today came from people who were willing to risk everything for their country. That kind of bravery changed how I viewed what it means to be an American.
My family and I took a vacation to Virginia when I was 14. I had the opportunity to walk through places like Jamestown, Williamsburg, and Yorktown. It was a really cool experience! Walking through Jamestown and Williamsburg felt like stepping back in time. There were dirt roads, wooden buildings, and people in colonial outfits. It made it easy to imagine the daily lives of the settlers and soldiers. I was able to watch blacksmiths at work and see the challenges they faced. My favorite part was seeing the governor’s palace that showed the beginnings of leadership in our country. It really made me appreciate how much our country has been through to become what it is today.
My favorite stories to hear from my grandpa were about my relatives. My grandpa would tell me about my Uncle Adolf and Aunt Rosalie, who both served in World War II. I’ve always been especially inspired by my Aunt Rosalie, who served as a nurse. She didn’t fight on the front lines, but she still played a critical role by helping others. It made me proud to know that my family had a part in fighting for America.
I am extremely thankful to have a family that encouraged me to lear about history and remind me of the stories of my ancestors. I realize that being an American isn’t just about living in this country. It’s about understanding the sacrifices, the struggles, and the stories that built it. It’s about recognizing the bravery of the Americans that have paved the way for us today.