DAR Seek Student Entries for History Essay Contests

The Washington Crossing Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution invites area students in grades 5-8 to enter its annual American History Essay Contest and high school students enrolled in grades 9-12 to enter the annual Christopher Columbus Essay Contest.

This year's topic for the American History Essay Contest is "The Women’s Suffrage Campaign,” marking the upcoming 100th anniversary of the 19th amendment to the US Constitution that granted women the right to vote. Essayists are invited to imagine living in 1919 as the debates about the amendment go on in their own community and home, highlighting the arguments about political and social changes that would come with these new voting rights.

The topic for this year's Christopher Columbus Essay Contest is “Comparing Ship Technology: The Ships Columbus Used Versus the Ships of Today,” examining the maritime advances across centuries. Essayists will discuss the advantages and disadvantage of these late fifteenth-century ships compared to the modern ships of today and how they would have been prepared for the monumental voyage.

Essay judges will consider historical accuracy, adherence to topic, organization of material, interest, originality, spelling, grammar, punctuation and neatness to determine grade level winners. This contest is conducted without regard to race, religion, sex or national origin.

The Washington Crossing Chapter will select winners from each grade level in the American History Essay Contest and one winner in the Christopher Columbus Essay Contest who will each be presented with awards at a March ceremony and reception. The chapter’s winning essays will be submitted to the Pennsylvania State Society, Daughters of the American Revolution for a statewide contest. State level winners are entered in a national contest for monetary awards and offered the opportunity to present their essays during a trip to Washington, DC during the organization’s annual meeting known as Continental Congress.

The local deadline for both chapter contests is Thursday, November 15. To receive contest entry information, contact the chapter’s American History Committee Chairman Lory Fraraccio-Kenney at WCAmericanHistoryEssay@gmail.com.