DAR honors 4 Good Citizens

Wayne County’s Daughters of the American Revolution chapter has recognized Good Citizens from four high schools.

The four new graduates and their schools are: Abigail Lumpkin, Hagerstown; Benjamin Bates, Lincoln; Ava Bales, Northeastern; and Makayla Minor, Seton Catholic.

Cheryl Amos, regent of the Richmond-based chapter, said high school staff chose the winners based on their dependability, service, leadership and patriotism.

The students demonstrated exemplary leadership skills through their involvement in numerous school and community activities, Amos said, and their essays submitted were thoughtful and skillfully written. All four are National Honor Society members.

Noting the United States’ 250th birthday on July 4, the National Society of DAR asked teen essayists to describe how the characteristics of a good citizen help to renew and strengthen the democracy the American Revolution patriots achieved.

• Hagerstown: Lumpkin serves on the Superintendent’s Council. Through FFA, she’s active in events including Wayne County Farmers Breakfast, Mooreland Free Fair and Wayne County 4-H Fair. She is a certified nursing assistant volunteering in a local nursing home. She completed two years of health sciences at New Castle Career Center and plans to attend Indiana University East in the fall to become a registered nurse. She’s also active in 4-H, youth workshops and groups, volleyball management, food drives, and serving at benefit dinners.
• Lincoln: Bates served as president of Student Government to conclude his four years of involvement, and he’s participated in many community service projects for that organization and NHS. He was an information technology intern at LMHS and is a receptionist at Golay Community Center. He has participated in basketball, baseball, tennis and football, and currently plays travel baseball. Bates plans to attend Purdue University to become a registered nurse.
• Northeastern: Bales was active with Student Council, Drug Free Wayne County, Art Club, Spanish Club and varsity golf, for which she was a three-year regional qualifier. Her interests in art and creative projects led her to study interior design at IU Bloomington. She interned for Richmond Neighborhood Restoration and hopes to use her degree for future historic building restorations. She works at Highland Lake Golf Course in Richmond and is involved with cattle farming.
• Seton: Minor won Outstanding Achievement Awards in several subjects while serving as National Honor Society vice president and on Student Council, playing tennis and working after school and on weekends in food service. She performed in the concert band’s percussion section and at various community events. Her visual art has appeared in exhibitions and auctions. She volunteers in her neighborhood and at fairs, festivals and musical events. She’s headed to IU Indianapolis to study forensic and investigative sciences, hoping to solve crimes through DNA analysis and evidence identification.