The Liberty Bell Chapter (Allentown) of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution held its awards ceremony May 20 at Jordan Lutheran Church, Orefield. Local high school seniors were presented with DAR Good Citizen Awards, and cadets participating in local military’s programs were awarded DAR Cadet Medals.

The recipients of the 2023 Good Citizen Awards were judged based on the qualities of a good citizen: dependability, service, leadership and patriotism. They had to show these qualities in their home, school and community environments. Recipients were chosen by their high schools.

Some students’ entries also included an essay for the DAR Good Citizen Scholarship contest. One recipient’s essay was chosen to move on to the state-level scholarship contest.

The students who received the Good Citizen Award were Peyton Taniser, Catasauqua High School; Rachel Apiolaza, Allentown Central Catholic High School; Madeleine Hess, Emmaus High School; Michael Dwornicki, Louis E. Dieruff High School; Madelynn Mack, Northern Lehigh High School; Maci Fisher, Northwestern Lehigh High School; Ethan Jones, Palmerton High School; Taryn Poremba, Parkland High School; and Katelyn Smith, Salisbury High School. Each school recipient received a DAR Good Citizen winner’s pin, personalized certificate, a wallet recognition card and a Liberty Bell chapter graduation honor cord.

Hess received a $250 award from the Liberty Bell chapter for the winning essay in the DAR Good Citizen Scholarship contest. Her essay advanced to the state competition. She received $250 from the Pennsylvania Society Daughters of the American Revolution for her essay earning her third place at the state level.

The Junior ROTC and Outstanding Cadet recipients were chosen by their commanders based on their performances in their respective units.

The 2023 Junior ROTC Bronze Medal was awarded to a cadet who has shown the qualities of dependability and good character, adherence to military discipline, leadership and a fundamental understanding of the importance of ROTC training.

Two students, Cadet First Lt. Daira Santana, from Louis E. Dieruff High School, Junior ROTC Air Force program, and Cadet Seaman Apprentice Malaysia Lumpriss, from William Allen High School, Junior ROTC Naval program, received the DAR Junior ROTC Bronze Medals, a personalized certificate and a monetary gift of $100 for their outstanding performance in their Junior ROTC respective units.

The Outstanding Cadet Medal was awarded to a cadet from non-ROTC military-affiliated cadet programs. This medal recognizes a cadet who has demonstrated outstanding leadership, honor, service, courage and patriotism.

Cadet Seaman Apprentice Fisola Oyerokun, who attends Moravian Academy, Bethlehem, received the DAR Outstanding Cadet Silver Medal, a personalized certificate and a monetary gift of $100 for his distinguished accomplishments in the Naval Sea Cadet Corps, Lehigh Valley division.

Members of the Liberty Bell chapter, parents, family, school counselors and administrators, a military commander and judges attended the ceremony in the church’s family center. Chapter Regent Jennifer Mease opened the program with the Pledge of Allegiance, the recitation of the Preamble of the United States and the American’s Creed. Loretta Igo, chairwoman of the Good Citizen Committee, and Hope Thorne, chairwoman of the National Defense Committee, presented the awards and medals.

All recipients briefly told the audience a little about themselves and their future ambitions. Closing remarks by Mease included thanking parents and instructors for helping to guide these students in becoming strong examples of young citizens of the United States of America.

The DAR is a women’s nonprofit social service organization whose mission is historic preservation, education and patriotism. The organization was founded in 1890. Its members are descended from the patriots who won American independence during the Revolutionary War. DAR members are committed to volunteer service in their communities, their states and their nation.