Courneya second at state level

Contributed photos
DAR essay award winner, L-R: Aili Salber, Bernita (Birdie) Morsch, Amelia Holbrook, Rachael Courneya, Lyndon Host, and Emma D. Weniger.

Winners of the annual American History Essay Contest sponsored by the Capt. Robert Orr Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution were honored at the April Chapter meeting.  

Rachael Courneya, a seventh grade student at Frazee High School, placed second at the State level in the DAR essay contest.

The 2025-26 American History Essay Contest was open to students in grades 5–8. In honor of America’s 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, this year’s theme was “Lunch with a Signer,” where students imagined meeting a signer of the Declaration of Independence. The students chose an individual and wrote about how their actions and service contributed to their independence. The students were judged on historical accuracy, originality and writing quality. 

Aili Salber, a Detroit Lakes eighth grader placed second at the DAR State level. 

Bernita (Birdie) Morsch is a fifth grader at Forestview Middle School and placed first at the State Level. On April 18 she read her essay at the DAR State Conference in Minnetonka. 

Amelia Holbrook, a seventh grader at Forestview Middle School, also placed first at the State level. Rachael Courneya is a seventh grade student at Frazee High School and placed second at the State level.  

Lyndon Host, a fifth grade student, was the school winner at Rippleside Elementary School in Aitkin.

The local Captain Robert Orr Chapter also sponsors a Patriots of the American Revolution High School Essay Contest for grades 9–12. This year focused on individuals who contributed to America’s fight for independence during the American Revolution between 1773 and 1783.  Emma D. Weniger chose to write about Crispus Attucks, the first casualty of the American Revolutionary War. Weniger is a Junior at Wadena-Deer Creek High School in Wadena. Weniger won first place locally and second at the State level.

The Chapter winners read their essays, received a certificate, a monetary gift, and then enjoyed lunch.

The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution was founded in 1890 to promote historic preservation, education and patriotism. Its members are descended from the patriots who won American independence during the Revolutionary War. Already this year DAR members have volunteered over 800,647 hours in service to America.