Contests

American History Essay Contest – Grades 5- 8

The contest is open to all students in public, private, or parochial schools, and in registered home-study programs. The theme varies each year, but relates to a character — such as Paul Revere — or an event in American history. Find out more details by visiting the Education pages on the DAR National website.

Patriots of the American Revolution High School Essay Contest – Grades 9-12

This contest is open to students in public, private, and parochial schools, and registered home-study programs, in grades 9 through 12. The contest will focus on the men and women who figured in the events of the American Revolution (1773 – 1783), and it is hoped that students will find Patriots to write about who will interest and inspire them. Find out more details by visiting the Education pages on the DAR National website.

Outstanding American History Teacher Award

Colorado DAR also recognizes an outstanding American History teacher in Colorado each year. To learn more about this award, please contact your local chapter. A map of Colorado chapters can be found here.

• Jill Haffley
• 2010 Colorado Outstanding History Teacher
• Photo by Justin Edmonds for American Spirit Magazine

Junior American Citizens

To encourage a deeper sense of social responsibility and interest in civics and the history of the United States, Junior American Citizens (JAC) offers contests in art, creative expression and community service for grades K-12. Entries are judged by grade on three levels (gifted, general and special needs) so that every child may enter the contest regardless of ability. Children from youth groups, as well as schools, may participate in the contests. Any school, organization or person can participate in the JAC Contest under sponsorship of a local DAR chapter.

The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution created the Junior American Citizens (JAC) Committee in 1901 to promote good citizenship and appreciation of American heritage and history and promote practical ideas for service to home, community, school and country among every school-age child in the United States.

To request more information on JAC and other Colorado DAR contests, visit contact a nearby chapter or by using our Contact Us page.

DAR Good Citizens

The DAR Good Citizens program is a wonderful way to recognize outstanding high school seniors in your community. The program and Scholarship Contest is intended to encourage and reward the qualities of good citizenship. The program is open to all senior class students enrolled in accredited public or private secondary schools that are in good standing with their state boards of education. United States citizenship is not required. To learn more about this contest, please contact your local chapter.  The student selected as the school’s DAR Good Citizen must have the following qualities:

• Dependability (which includes truthfulness, loyalty, and punctuality);
• Service (which includes cooperation, courtesy, and consideration of others);
• Leadership (which includes personality, self-control, and ability to assume responsibility); and
• Patriotism (which includes unselfish interest in family, school, community, and nation) to an outstanding degree.