DAR honors students

GiGi Parker presents Mike Russell with his certificate for DAR American History Teacher of the Year

Pictured from left are (back row) Trenton Lee, Bethany Bishop, Lynda Laumbach, aGiGi Parker, DAR American History Committee Chairman, (Front row) Bailee Gries and Jordan Runyan.

American History month was celebrated by the Tucumcari Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution with their annual essay awards luncheon. Students from area schools were recognized for their winning essays.

The DAR Good Citizen essay was written by a senior, selected by the faculty of their school. The student has two hours to write an essay on citizenship under a teacher's supervision, and without reference material. This years winner is Lynda Laumbach, from Roy High School, and Brittany Bishop from Tucumcari was second place.

The history essay winner for grades 9-12 was Jordan Runyan, a Junior, from House High School, who wrote on Christopher Columbus: In his own time in history, and today. Trenton Lee, eighth grade student from House and Bailee Gries, fifth grader from Tucumcari, won their respective grade level with essays on The War of 1812. All winning essays are forwarded on for competition at the state level.

This year, the Tucumcari Chapter selected Tucumcari history teacher Mike Russell for the Outstanding Teacher of American History Award. He was also selected as New Mexico's DAR Outstanding Teacher of American History and his name has been submitted for National competition. Russell has taught for 33 years, including the last 23 with Tucumcari Public Schools.