DAR Honors 5 GHS Students as “Good Citizens”

The historic (1690) provided a cozy setting last week for five Greenwich High School teens honored with the Good Citizens Awards from (DAR). The honorees, one senior from each of GHS’s five houses, were selected for five key qualities: academics, dependability, service, leadership, and patriotism.

According to Tia Woods, 40-year member of the CAR and DAR and 11-year chair of the Good Citizens Award committee, “The award is like a lifetime achievement award. It is equivalent to a Girl Scout silver or gold award or an Eagle Scout award.”

Honorees each received recommendations from both their house administrators and guidance counselors at GHS. They also furnished essays and outside recommendations in order to be considered for the award. The contest culminated with a 2-hour, proctored 500-word essay writing session on a topic unknown to the students beforehand.

The five recipients of the Good Citizens Award for 2011 are Lauren Bacon, Erin Provenzano, Gillis Baxter, Molly Sperduti-Matesevac, and Jessica Gorski. The program is coordinated at GHS by Guidance Director Linda Woods. After each of the winners received a red rose, pin, $100 cash award, and framed certificate, they delivered individual remarks to the crowd of parents, friends, GHS administrators and guidance counselors.

Of the five honorees, Jessica Gorski learned that based on her winning essay, she was selected to proceed to represent GHS in competition at the state level. Each state winner receives a cash award in the amount of $250.

With more than 200 members, the Putnam Hill Chapter, DAR, is the largest chapter in the state of Connecticut. It owns and operates Putnam Cottage. There ceremony was also officiated by Sally Bretschger, the Putnam Hill regent.