FARMINGTON – The Colonial Daughters Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, has announced that seven high school seniors have been chosen as DAR Good Citizens by their schools.
Johanna E. LaPlant of Farmington is the DAR Good Citizen for Mt. Blue High School, Chelsie Louise Morris of East Livermore is the DAR Good Citizen for Livermore Falls High School, Rachel S. Dennison of Carrabassett Valley is the DAR Good Citizen for Mt. Abram High School, Katie Lynn Hall of Jay is the DAR Good Citizen for Jay High School, Megan Elizabeth Arsenault of Rumford is the DAR Good Citizen for Mountain Valley High School, Anna Lindsey Chase of Dixfield is the DAR Good Citizen for Dirigo High School and Samantha Olivieri of Rangeley is the DAR Good Citizen for Rangeley Lakes Regional School.
Chairman of the Good Citizen Committee for Colonial Daughters Chapter of Farmington, Deborah J Judkins of Upton reports that Colonial Daughters Chapter sponsors all seven high schools in their efforts to recognize excellence in their students. The school faculty nominates several candidates for this honor each year. The person who is chosen to receive the honor must have demonstrated each of the qualities as defined by The National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution to an outstanding degree.
Mt Blue High School
LaPlant, daughter of Lori and Richard LaPlant, has been a member of the band, the basketball team, the softball team and the field hockey team (captain for senior year) for all four years. She has been on the honor roll for the same amount of time. She was also elected to the National Honor Society this year.
LaPlant has been on Student Council for the last two years and is serving as co-president this year. In October, 2007 she was a Student of the Month recipient. In October, 2008 she was the Principal Award recipient (based on community service).
She has been involved with community activities as a volunteer tutor at Cascade Brooke Elementary School. LaPlant works every other day in the special needs room. The experience has helped to make her a stronger and more compassionate person. Her realization of her passion for working with other enabled persons happened during her time spent there. She has been accepted at High Point University in North Carolina where she plans to study Special Education.
Livermore Falls High School
Morris, daughter of Lorie and Scott Morris, has served on student senate as freshman class representative, as secretary of her junior class and is serving as co-president now. She has been named to the honor roll each semester, was selected as a student of the month each year and earned academic all-star this year. Additionally, she has served her school by joining the marching band, homecoming committee, winter carnival committee, Florida committee and prom committee. She has helped at school functions, drama productions and the yearbook.
Morris earned physical education awards during her freshman and sophomore years. She played for the varsity softball team for three years and was the captain during Spring, 2008. She has been on the varsity field hockey team since her freshman year, earned an honorable mention as a sophomore, and is serving as the captain this year. During her participation on this team, she earned a place on the 2007 Mountain Valley All Conference Second Team and the 2008 Mountain Valley All Conference First Team. The Maine Field Hockey Association named her to the 2008 Class C All-State Field Hockey team. Morris also served her community by coaching a youth field hockey team this last fall.
She is involved in the youth group of her church which includes helping to put on dinners and stacking wood for the elderly and/or infirm persons in her community. She recently volunteered to help with raising money for world hunger and for a classmate with multiple disabilities. She is active with the youth ministry of her church, attends yearly youth conventions, and helps at the local food pantry. She supports her town by participating in special events and festivals held in town, helping to keep the traditions going.
Morris plans to attend Thomas College and become a business manager and wants to eventually own her own business. She shows great leadership skills in the various areas of her life. Her method is leadership by example and hopes to have a lot of opportunity to make the world a better place.
Mt Abram High School
Dennison, daughter of Kimberly Lyman and Allen Dennison, attended the fall National Youth Leaders Conference during her freshman year and was a 2008 Dirigo Girl’s State participant. She has earned a place on the honor roll every semester and was inducted into the National Honor Society last year. She also received the John Brown Writer’s Award and the Phi Beta Kappa Award. This year she became a member of the math team and is the Mt Abram Toyota Scholarship nominee.
She belongs to the French club and is serving as president this year. As a sophomore, she spent three weeks in France with the club’s foreign exchange program. Then during her junior year, she and her family hosted two French students for two weeks for the club and she earned the French Rosetta Award as well. To top that off, she is just as fluent in Spanish as she is in French having earned a 99 average over five semesters. Future plans include travel to Italy, Spain and Germany.
Dennison is talented athletically as well. Three years (so far) on the junior varsity and varsity soccer teams, four on the track and field team and the Nordic ski team where she has placed in the lead pack at local meets more than once demonstrate that. She loves whitewater kayaking for fun too. During summer vacations, she works as a video boater for a rafting company in northern Maine. Not only does she shoot the video but she cuts and edits the raw footage and adds music to create memories for the participants. For the last two summers, Dennison taught teens how to whitewater kayak leading and teaching by example.
She is also involved in providing support to her community by using her athletic talents through the Skowhegan Lions Club Relay for Life. She stays for the whole relay (several days each time), walking to raise money for cancer victims in her community. And, she participates in the the yearly March of Dimes. She plans to attend college and wants to earn degrees in outdoor recreation, professional writing and/or foreign languages/culture. She wants to be a writer or linguist who also teaches whitewater kayaking.
Jay High School
Hall, daughter of Wendy and Scott Hall, was inducted into National Honor Society as a sophomore and is serving as the secretary of the Jay High School chapter this year. She has been on the honor roll for all of her high school career as well as participating in two school sports so she has been honored with scholar athlete awards.
She has been a member of the varsity field hockey team for four years, was a tri-captain this year and she earned a place on the 2008 Mountain Valley All Conference All-Star Second Team. When she is done with the regular field hockey season, she can be found during the winter months playing indoor field hockey . She also enjoys playing softball and is looking forward to her fourth season on the team this spring.
Hall served as president of her class for the last two years. She served on the prom committee and was crowned prom queen last year. She was a 2008 Dirigo Girls’ State nominee. She has been a member of the Pi-Cone North Math Team for three years and was on the JHS State Math Team. She played flute in the band during her freshman year.
Hall received the excellence in Spanish award, the Phi Beta Kappa award and the Consistently Awesome Award for her participation in drama productions including one where she played one of two students injured by a drunk driver that was so realistically portrayed that some people did not know it was staged for educational purposes. She will be playing the “interviewer” in the production of “FFLEA MARKET” and will handle lights and sounds for the production of “skid marks” during Spring 2009.
She has been involved with community activities through the Area Youth Sports Program, volunteering time as a field hockey coach for fourth and fifth graders. She has been coaching each fall for the last 3 years. She also participates as a volunteer field hockey coach for the Do the Drills, Learn the Skills camp held at Jay High School every year
After serving as an intern last year, Hall was offered a position by Hannaford’s as a part-time pharmacy technician. She has earned early acceptance from the University of New England at Biddeford where she will begin studies in the six year doctorate of pharmacology program this fall.
Mountain Valley High School
Arsenault, daughter of Barbara and Ron Arsenault, has been in National Honor Society for three years and served on the NHS State Executive Board in public relations. She has earned academic honors every semester while attending MVHS. She joined the civil rights team, peer helpers, the robotics club, varsity lacrosse, the school newspaper as a photographer, Students Working Against Tobacco and the Big Brothers Big Sisters organization.
She has been a member of the Civil Air Patrol for the last six years and has participated in the Veterans Day Ceremony each year and enjoyed the appreciation of the community and the honored veterans for her service. Arsenault has held numerous offices while serving in the Civil Air Patrol including Cadet Commander, Deputy Cadet Commander and Basic Radio Operator. She has been the American Flag Bearer for six Memorial Day Parades. And, she is General Emergency Services qualified.
She earned the Billy Mitchel Award, the Wright Brothers Award, a classroom award for foundations, a physical education award, varsity letter for skiing and a varsity letter for serving as the football manager this year. She has belonged to the chorus for four years, has performed in the Spring Musical and the Fall play for three years and was in The Awards Show! (musical dinner theatre) to support her class and school.
As a member of Ignite Oxford County, Arsenault has worked to have candy cigarettes banned and to make it illegal for anyone to smoke in a car with anyone who is under the age of 16 by testifying before the state senate. She has served as a junior hospital volunteer on the oncology ward and belongs to the Maine Youth Action Network where she serves on the youth planning team and has attended two Anti-Tobacco Summits and the Peer Leadership Conference.
Arsenault has applied to various colleges and definitely intends on attending one of them but has not settled on the exact focus of her career goals. She is considering several different fields such as advertising, public relations, drama and/or American Sign Language Interpretation. She is absolutely plans to stay active with Civil Air Patrol for the rest of her life in one capacity or another. And, she knows that she likes the idea of pushing the limits of her comfort zone. She wants to continue to be challenged for the rest of her life.
Dirigo High School
Chase, daughter of Raymond Chase Jr and Lisa Belanger, has lead her class in academics all through her high school years maintaining a 98+ average. She has served her school and community through her membership in the Dunham Chapter of the National Honor Society by chairing the annual service project, the Senior Holiday Dinner where a delicious home-made meal is served and entertainment provided without charge for older adults in the community. She is also the organization’s treasurer so she is very active in organizing and participating in the multiple fundraising activities throughout the year. She handles distribution of the funds to various charities and organizations which impact the lives of many in the community.
Chase is truly an advocate for everyone to learn about abuse, dating violence and stereotypes helping to make a real change in the world around her. She is an active member of Voices Committed to Change, a student organization affiliated with the Abused Women’s Advocacy Project of Western Maine. She travels to schools to participate in educational activities for her peers and provide resources for teens. She gives presentations and reads to younger children to promote kind treatment of animals and people, and has been a speaker at an annual Domestic Violence Awareness Month vigil. Her efforts help to promote healthy relationships for the whole community.
Last summer, Chase was provided with an opportunity to attend the Keller-BLOOM Program which is held at the Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences in West Boothbay Harbor to study and understand basic ocean science research and techniques. She has been a member of the Ecology Club. She is serving as the president. This year the club is a two time defending Western Maine Regional Envirothon champion team. Chase is interested in helping to promote and participate in a healthy world too.
She has been a member of the Cougar Tennis Team earning a varsity letter, the Cougar award and the Coaches award. Chase has worked at Cougar Tennis Camp as an assistant tennis coach during summers. She helps to run drills, demonstrates techniques and sets up activities. She instructs both elementary and middle school students in one camp session and high school students in another.
The Alpine and Nordic ski team has also benefitted from Chase’s participation and leadership. She is the captain this year. She earned her varsity letters in both alpine and nordic. She has been recognized twice as the Skimeister of the year, MVP of 2006, the Cougar award in 2007 and the Frank Keegan Memorial award for dedication, desire and attitude.
Chase intends to pursue higher education at a small liberal arts college in New England majoring in biology. She is also considering environmental studies. She wants to use her “time in college to expose herself to a variety of experiences and fields of study to find what truly inspires me.” She would like to pursue a career in the sciences, perhaps in a medical field or environmental research. She intends to a complete post graduate degree and become a leader in her chosen profession. Chase hopes to be able to travel throughout the world and believes that learning continues throughout life.
Rangeley Lakes Regional School
Olivieri, daughter of Karen and Philip Oliveieri, served as her class president for her freshman, sophomore and senior years and vice president for her junior year. In the Interact Club since 2005, she served as treasurer, secretary and is now president. She was inducted into National Honor Society in 2008. In 2007, she attended the National Student Leadership Conference and earned an award for her essay. She earned the Williams Book Award and Society of Women Engineers Award in 2008. She joined the math team this year having been a part of Math Coalition during last school year.
Olivieri’s participation in sports teams includes four years each in varsity soccer, basketball and softball. She served as captain of the soccer team in 2007 and is captain of the basketball team this year. And, Olivieri was named a 2008 East-West Conference Softball All-Star and a 2008 East-West Conference Soccer All-Star.
Olivieri has served many community service organizations. Her service credits for Rotary include designing the banner, providing child care, supervising the annual Halloween parties, and being an all around helper at the annual Rotary cookout (four years). She has served the local school board by serving on hiring committees for principal and a history teacher. She has coached mini-league basketball.
She has sung our National Anthem for pond hockey, the Memorial Day parade, at graduation ceremonies, at the Western Maine Finals, at the Sesquincentenial Celebration and for RLRS varsity basketball games from 2005 on. She has also sung for the Congregational Church, in an elementary concert, the 2008 graduation ceremony and in numerous musicals and, in at least two Rangeley Lakes Spring Concerts, she was a soloist. She served as the assistant musical director for “Annie Jr” in 2008 and has been the choir president since 2007.
She has volunteered with Blueberry Festival, Pennies for Unicef, food drives for both Phillips and Rangeley, Phillips Clean-Up Day, Coin Wars for cystic fibrosis and Seniors Plus, the Dick Deery Run/Walk for MSA and Hats for Sadie. Finally, she has served the older community by painting pumpkins and helping with game nights and Christmas Dinner at elderly housing.
Olivieri worked for Saddleback Motor Inn from 2002 until 2005, Rangeley Vacation Rentals in 2007 and Rangeley Region Physical Rehab and Wellness Pavillion in 2008. She plans on attending college in the fall of 2009.
DAR Awards Ceremony
On March 24, 2009, the Colonial Daughters Chapter will entertain the 2009 DAR Good Citizens, their parents, and school principals at a luncheon and awards ceremony at Old South Congregational Church in Farmington. The guest speaker will be Dave Fuller, an agriculture/natural resources professional for the University of Maine Cooperative Extension Service in Farmington. He will be speaking on the history of Maine spruce gum. Because many people have never heard of Maine spruce gum, Fuller has been collecting material for a book he’s writing.
The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution was founded in 1890 to promote patriotism, preserve American history, and support better education for our nation’s children. Its members are descended from the patriots who won American independence during the Revolutionary War. With more than 168,000 members in approximately 3,000 chapters worldwide, DAR is one of the world’s largest and most active service organizations, and is also the publisher of the award-winning magazine American Spirit. To learn more about the work of today’s DAR, visit www.DAR.org.
