Winners of the annual Student American History Essay Contest sponsored by the Shrewsbury Towne Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) as part of the national DAR essay contest have been honored by the Chapter for their excellence in winning a highly competitive contest.
Six schools competed in this year’s competition, which is open to students in fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth grades, as well as students who are home schooled.
Contestants in each of the grades meet strict rules in order to compete.
With this year’s subject for essays. “Enjoying a New Kind of Tea Party,” students had to familiarize themselves with the tea parties in the 1770s which included, in addition to the famous Boston Tea Party, tea parties that followed in Charlestown, Chester Town, Edenton, North Carolina and Wilmington, North Carolina. Students then had to give details of either the Edenton or Wilmington tea party, describing it together with their reason for choosing the one they did. They then had to give their opinion on whether that particular tea party was a good idea and why.
Winners in each of the grades were Vivian Bufano in fifth grade, Amelia Ortega in sixth, Madeline Ker in 7th and Margaret Dougherty in 8th grade.
Students came from St. Leo the Great, Lincroft; Oak Hill Academy, Lincroft; St. James School, Red Bank; Forestdale School, Rumson; Manalapan-Englishtown; and Tinton Falls Middle School.
All of the students who participated deserve recognition and praise as well., said Anna Cook, who expressed pride and admiration for the depth of the entries and the ability of all contestants to meet the rigid criteria for entering. The judges deciding the competition winners, in adherence to national rules, included 1 DAR member and 2 non-DAR members for a total of three judges. For this competition, Jon Clark and Lynn Leahy were the non members of the DAR and joined DAR member Mary Jo Fabiano in reviewing each of the entries.
Entries had to be between 500 and 600 words for 5th and 6th grade entries, and between 600 and 1,000 words for the upper classes. Students were advised of the color type and size they could use on the computer, as well as present verification all research from at least four resources, and verification all writing and editing was done solely by the student.
Judging was based on historical accuracy, adherence to the topic, material organization, interest, originality, spelling, grammar and originality of the writer.
The Shrewsbury Towne Chapter organized 1935 and merged with the already established Monmouth Chapter 2004. It took its name from Shrewsbury Towne, settled in 1664, so named because two trails converged, and business centered at this point. It was the crossroads, Four Corners, where the King’s Highway crossed the Burlington Trail, the Indian Trail now known as Sycamore Avenue . It was lined with sycamores which shaded Washington’s worn and wounded men as they pursued the English in their retreat from Philadelphia to Sandy Hook. The chapter placed a commemorative plaque on one of the sycamores which is still visible.
