Canyon Ridge Students Receive Awards from Arizona DAR

Canyon Ridge School, in partnership with the Arizona Daughters of the American Revolution (Arizona DAR) - Agua Fria chapter, recently recognized the seventh grade team for participating in the 2021-2022 National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR) History Essay Contest. Middle level learners, their teachers, and community guests recently gathered for an awards assembly and to honor student Charles Riley III who won first place in the contest on the chapter level. He received a special award and a prize. His outstanding work will now advance to the Arizona DAR state level competition. More than 100 additional learners that submitted a contest entry were presented with a certificate of participation for their efforts.

The theme of the annual contest involved the one-hundredth anniversary of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery. Each student generated a thought provoking historical essay of 600 words or more that highlighted the importance of the national monument. The essay prompt required a combination of historical facts, patriotic perspectives, and fictional characters. Learners performed internet research to determine the design, construction and purpose of the tomb. They also included facts from their study of the First World War in social studies class and the creative writing techniques and conventions provided during Language Arts instruction.

“The students did wonderful work and were so creative,” stated Arizona DAR - Agua Fria member Shirley Staggs. “They really had a great grasp of the prompt and the importance of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.”

“Each year our collaboration with Canyon Ridge School gets better and better,” stated Arizona DAR - Agua Fria Regent Twila Lobitz. “The seventh grade team has demonstrated great creativity and a genuine sense of patriotism.”