Katelyn Hand Receives DAR Good Citizen Award

FARWELL – Katelyn Marie Hand, 2016-17 DAR Good Citizen for Bucktail Area High School. She is the daughter of Scott and Dori Hand.

DAR stands for Daughters of the American Revolution and is an organization in which its members have proven that someone in their heritage has served in the Revolutionary War. DAR is dedicated to promoting patriotism, preserving American History and securing America’s future through better education. In the fall of 2016 Katelyn was nominated by her teachers, along with other seniors as someone who had the qualities necessary to be a DAR Good citizen. They were expected to have the qualities of dependability, service, leadership, and patriotism to an outstanding degree. Once nominated these students were voted on by fellow classmates and Katelyn was chosen to represent their class as the 2016 DAR Good Citizen of the Year.  On April 11th, Katelyn and her parents, were guests at the Renovo DAR meeting and supper held at the Sportsman’s restaurant.

Katelyn was presented with a pin, wallet recognition card, and certificate (shown in picture).  She will also receive $25 at graduation. She took the opportunity to enter a scholarship contest that involved two parts.  The first part involved personal information and essay that told the judges just some of the things that make Katelyn the amazing young woman that she is.

It included an explanation of her involvement in her school and academics as a member of Yearbook Club-2 years, Reading under the Lights-3 years, Veteran’s Day Assembly -7 years, Interact Club- 7 years, Environmental Club-7 years, Choir Club-8 years with going to Districts once, Band- 3 years, Girls Basketball- 6 years winning MVP 3 years, Softball- 8 years winning MVP 3 years, Honor Society 8 years.  She also explained her involvement in her community by some of the many ways she has contributed from participating in Blood Drives, being an active member in putting together the Veteran’s Day program honoring Veterans, and volunteering painting curbs, benches and signs around Renovo. There were also transcripts and letters of recommendation. She manages to do all this and also works 3 part-time jobs!  The second part was an essay, written under the supervision of DAR Good Citizen Chair-person Joy Grenell.

She was given a written prompt at the beginning of a two hour session where she composed a brilliantly written essay on ‘How do the combined actions of many good citizens keep our nation moving forward?’.  Katelyn read her essay to the DAR members at the meeting/dinner in her honor, as well as shared her future plans. She is a very special DAR Good Citizen because she has already enlisted in the United States Army.  She spent her 17^th birthday in our state capital enlisting.  Exemplifying the true meaning of ‘Service before Self’!  After High School graduation she will then follow military orders to wherever assigned or needed.  When she returns home she will attend Lock Haven University with a dual major in Criminal Justice and Childhood Education and a minor in Special Education.  Congratulations Katelyn, we are so very proud of you!