May 01, 2008 12:23 pm
—
By MICHELLE MILLER
Staff Writer
Cooperstown fifth-grader Rebecca Odell
said she was extremely excited when she
received local recognition for the essay she
entered into this year’s Daughters of the
American Revolution (DAR) Essay competition,
but was overwhelmed with joy when she
received a phone call Monday night notifying
her that her essay placed second in the state.
``I called up almost everyone I knew,’’ said
Odell. ``My friends were over, and when I told
them, they made up this little dance.’’
DAR is an organization of women dedicated
to promoting historic preservation, education,
and patriotism. Each year, the DAR conducts
a national American history essay contest for
students in grades five through eight. A topic
is selected for use during the academic year,
and essays are judged for historical accuracy,
adherence to topic, organization of materials,
interest, originality, spelling, grammar,
punctuation, and neatness.
The contest is conducted locally by the
DAR chapters, and chapter winners are
judged regionally and nationally, with
national winners receiving a monetary award.
Odell said her social studies teacher, Mrs.
Kiser, was the one who got her interested in
participating in the contest.
``I thought it would be cool to earn some
extra credit,’’ said Odell, who received a 100
on a social studies test that she didn’t have to
take in exchange for writing the essay.
Jane Ann Casey, of the Otsego DAR
Chapter, said Kiser typically encourages
many of her students to participate in the
contest. However, Casey said contest participation
was low this year, with only seven
students submitting essays to the local
chapter. She said there were no sixth-grade
entries this year.
``It is something that students have to want
to do,’’ said Casey. ``It is not usually a class
project.’’
Casey said once essays are submitted to
the local DAR chapter, each one is read, and a
winning essay is selected to be sent to the
state contest. She said there were over 200
essays submitted to the state contest this
year.
This year’s essay topic was ``What the Flag
of the United States Means to Me.’’ In Odell’s
essay she wrote, ``The American flag is
something we fought to have. Think back to a
page in your history book, about the American
Revolution. When we finally got our flag, we
had only 13 stars. But then, brick by brick,
star by star, we created a nation with 50
states. And it was a nation that all Americans
should be proud of. A very lucky nation.’’
Odell, who said she has always been
interested in history, said she spent about
three days completing her six-paragraph
essay. She said she used a World Book
encyclopedia to learn about the stars, Francis
Scott Key and the War of 1812. Odell said her
mom and dad also helped her find the books
needed for research and educated her about
the War of 1812.
Casey said Odell will be honored for her
accomplishments at a brunch at the Otesaga
on May 23. She will receive a certificate from
the New York State DAR organization as well
as from the Otsego DAR Chapter. She will
also be awarded a $50 check, for placing
second in the state contest, and a modest
award from the chapter, according to Casey.
Odell said she is looking forward to the
brunch, and is excited because her photo is
going to be put in the yearbook. Not shy, Odell
said she is also going to take Elementary
Principal Theresa Gorman up on her offer to
read the essay over the loudspeaker at school.
``I am not quite sure what I am going to do
with the $50 yet,’’ said Odell.
``Maybe I will put half in the
bank and spend the other
half.’’
Gorman said Odell is a
great representative of the
fifth grade because she is
``such a well-rounded talented
individual.’’
``We are very, very proud
of her,’’ said Gorman.
Peg Odell, Rebecca’s
mother, said the family is so
proud of Rebecca. She said
she reads a lot and she believes
Rebecca’s writing
shows a lot of creativity.
“My dad taught American
history in high school, and
though he passed away years
ago, I’ve been thinking how
proud he would be of his
granddaughter,’’ said Peg.
`` We are grateful to the
DAR chapter for providing
this opportunity for Becca,
and to all her teachers who
have encouraged and challenged
her over the years, ‘’
added Peg. ``For her to finish
second in the state of New
York is a great achievement
for Becca, and also for Cooperstown
Elementary.’’
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