The Liberty Bell chapter of National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, Allentown, celebrated 10 local high school students May 18 at its annual awards ceremony at Jordan Lutheran Church, Orefield. The seniors represent the future of community and country.

Awards were given to local high school students who participated in the DAR Good Citizen Award program and cadets involved in high school Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps military programs.

Recipients of the 2024 Good Citizen Award 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 student entries also included an essay for the DAR Good Citizen Scholarship contest.

Each school recipient received a DAR Good Citizen pin, a personalized certificate, a wallet recognition card, a monetary gift card and a Liberty Bell chapter graduation honor cord.

High school seniors receiving the 2024 DAR Good Citizen Award were Alivia Bear, Catasauqua High School; Sarah Greene, Emmaus High School; Haylie Fenstermaker, Northern Lehigh High School; Kaitlin Solt, Northwestern Lehigh High School; Olivia Wynn, Parkland High School; Jake Zellin, Salisbury High School; Samuel Magallanes, Southern Lehigh High School; and Emily Martinez, William Allen High School.

Bear was also awarded the chapter’s DAR Good Citizen Scholarship. She received a monetary award of $250 from the chapter for the winning essay in the DAR Good Citizen Scholarship contest.

The 2024 JROTC bronze medal is 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. The JROTC recipients are chosen by their commanders based on their performances in their respective units.

The 2024 DAR JROTC medal recipients were Cadet Capt. Miara Mitteff, Louis E. Dieruff High School, Air Force JROTC; and Cadet Lt. Diamond Torres, William Allen High School, Navy JROTC.

Each cadet received the DAR JROTC bronze medal, a personalized certificate, a graduation honor cord and a monetary gift of $100 for their outstanding performance in their respective JROTC units.

Members of the Liberty Bell chapter, parents and family, a school counselor, a JROTC commander and a scholarship essay judge attended the ceremony.

Chapter Regent Loretta Igo, co-chair of the Good Citizen committee, opened the program with the Pledge of Allegiance, the recitation of the preamble of the U.S. Constitution and the American’s Creed.

After the invocation, led by Chaplain Debra McDermott, Igo and Hope Thorne, co-chair of the Good Citizen committee and chairperson of the National Defense committee, presented the awards and medals. All recipients briefly told the audience a little about themselves and their future ambitions.

Before the benediction, closing remarks by Igo included thanking parents and instructors for helping guide these students in becoming strong examples of young citizens of the United States of America.

Refreshments were served, and members, students, cadets, family members and friends had a chance to take photos and congratulate the awardees.

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 community, state and nation.

To learn more about the work of the Liberty Bell chapter, visit libertybellchapterdar.weebly.com.