2024-2025 DAR American History Essay Contest Winners Announced

DECORAH — Three Decorah Middle School students wrote grade-level winning essays for this year's "American History Essay Contest." Isaiah Bonnet, son of Andy and Kim Bonnet, is the 8th-grade winner; Camille Rueckert, daughter of Matt and Kelli Rueckert, is the 6th-grade winner; and Charlotte Yu, daughter of Andrew Hageman and Min Yu, is the 5th-grade winner. The American History Essay Contest is sponsored by the Hannah Lee Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Each grade level winner was presented with a certificate and an "Excellence in History" bronze medal. All other participants received a certificate of participation. All three winning essays were sent on to the Iowa DAR for judging at the state level. Each year the Daughters of the American Revolution sponsor this contest for all area students in grades 5 - 8. This year's topic was on Enjoying a New Kind of Tea Party: "In the 1770s, there was a movement of protest from the xolonists against the British due to taxes and laws. Along the eastern coast a growing number of patriots held "tea" parties. The Boston Tea Party was on December 16, 1773, and the Charlestown, SC Tea Party and the Chester Town Tea Party followed in 1774. In October 1774, 51 women in Edenton, North Carolina, decided to refuse to buy tea from the British because of their high taxes and laws." "In 1775, women in Wilmington, North Carolina, burned their tea for the same reasons. Imagine you are one of these women boldly participating in one of these tea parties in North Carolina. Give details of either the Edenton Tea Party or Wilmington Tea Party, describe the tea party, and why you would choose to join them. Then, explain if you think it was a good decision." Stay informed, stay inspired! Newsletter sign up is free and join hundreds of free subscribers who rely on DecorahNews.com for trusted information and fresh perspectives.