DAR Presents Community Service and Good Citizen Awards

The Vidalia Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution presented a Community Service Award and Good Citizen Awards during an April 14 meeting in Vidalia. Joan Hutcheson, Chapter Registrar, presented a Community Service Award to retired educator Marlene Tomlin, who was honored for her leadership in several area organizations Mrs. Tomlin retired from Vidalia City School System as Director of Student Services. She has lived in the Lyons area for 47 years and is President of the Beth Israel Synagogue. In the Toombs County Retired Educators Association she served as president and as chairperson of the legislative committee, among other responsibilities. She kept members informed on issues throughout the year.

Mrs. Tomlin served as president of the honorary educators’ group, Delta Kappa Gamma. She was actively involved at the district and state levels, attending meetings and keeping members up to date on important information by sending out a newsletter.

Another entity to receive help from Mrs. Tomlin is the Vidalia-Toombs County Library. As one of the first to see the need for an organization to help the library in different ways, Mrs. Tomlin helped with the groundwork needed to form a 501c3 group. Mrs. Tomlin was the first President of Friends of the Library and continues in that role. She has worked diligently with the local business community to provide books and furniture for the three libraries in Toombs County. “Mrs. Tomlin has used her education unselfishly, first as a teacher and now as a volunteer in her community. She is positive, enthusiastic, always seeking ways to help others,” Mrs. Hutcheson said.

The five area students who received the DAR Good Citizen Awards and their counselors were recognized at the meeting. All DAR Good Citizens received a certificate and pin. Those who submitted essays received a monetary gift.

Antwazja Snead, daughter of Lawanda Mills, was announced as the Good Citizen for Treutlen County High School and the area essay award winner. Her counselor is Breanna Strickland. From Montgomery County, the DAR Good Citizen is Kierston Coleman, daughter of Janeth Coleman and the late Charles Coleman. Her counselor is Cammie Dally. Katie McDuffie, daughter of Randy and Jolie McDuffie, received the Good Citizen Award for Robert Toombs Christian Academy. Miss McDuffie’s counselor is Christy Smesny.

Nehemiah Blount, daughter of Charmaine Blount, received the Good Citizen Award for Toombs County High School. Her counselor is Michelle Branham. Walker McCord was named as the Good Citizen for Vidalia City Schools. He is the son of Mark and Lori McCord and his counselor is Chris Carroll. Jordan Powell received the Good Citizen Award for Vidalia Heritage Academy. He is the son of Jeremy and Joni Powell and his counselor is Holly Jones.

Each area school is invited by the DAR to choose one senior student to be recognized as a Good Citizen. Teachers and fellow students participate in the selections, so Good Citizens are held in high esteem by both the adults in the school and student peers. The schools are asked to choose a senior who best exemplifies the qualities of good citizenship, which include dependability, service, leadership and patriotism.

Once the school’s Good Citizen is chosen, he or she is invited to participate in an essay contest to compete for scholarships. Additionally, the students complete a detailed application, obtain three written references, and write an essay on a selected topic within a twohour timeframe. The topic for this year’s essay was, “Our American Heritage and Our Responsibilities for Preserving It.”

The essays are then judged by three people who are not in DAR. The top scoring essay is forwarded for entry in district competition. If the essay wins at this level, it advances to national competition. During the meeting, Mrs. Hutcheson announced that the DAR meeting was being held on the 93rd anniversary of the founding of the Vidalia Chapter NSDAR. She recognized the founding members of the organization: Mrs. Ober D. (Inez) Warthen, who served as the first Regent of the chapter, Mrs. E.M. (Cleo) Auld, Mrs. George (Myra) Granade, Mrs. Lewis (Annie) Godbee, Miss Katherine Godbee, Miss Abba Joe Gordon, Miss Evleyn Hilsman James, Mrs. William Ashworth (Jennie) Jones, Mrs. Percival Giles (Suzanne) McNatt, Mrs. Joseph Eugene (Frances) Mercer, Mrs. Leon (Annabel) Oliver, Mrs. John Thornton (Mary) Ragan, Mrs. George Sumner (Mary) Rountree, and Miss Grace Amelia Smith.

COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD — Joan Hutcheson, Chapter Registrar of the Vidalia Chapter NSDAR, left, presents a service commendation to Marlene Tomlin, who was recognized by the DAR for her leadership in several area organizations.Photo by Deborah Clark