Blue Ridge Parkway

Resources for Students

Children of the American Revolution

Any boy or girl under the age of twenty-two who can prove lineal, bloodline descent from an ancestor who aided in achieving American independence is eligible to join the Children of the American Revolution (C.A.R.). Members enjoy friendship with other youth who have similar interests, develop leadership skills, and acquire hands-on knowledge of American history.

For more information visit the National Society of the Children of the American Revolution or the North Carolina Society of the Children of the American Revolution.

American History Essay Contest

The American History Essay Contest was established to encourage young people to think creatively about our nation's great history and learn about history in a new light. Students in grades five through eight are encouraged to participate.

Each year, a selected topic for use during the academic year is announced, and contest instructions are published online and sent to schools by participating DAR chapters. Essays are judged for historical accuracy, adherence to the topic, organization of materials, interest, originality, spelling, grammar, punctuation, and neatness.

Please contact our chapter for more information.

Christopher Columbus Essay Contest

Each year the DAR and the National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) sponsor an annual national essay contest on a chosen topic in honor of Christopher Columbus. The contest is open to students in grades nine through twelve.

Essays are judged for historical accuracy, adherence to the topic, organization of materials, interest, originality, spelling, grammar, punctuation, and neatness. Judging at the national level is supervised by the NIAF.

Please contact our chapter for more information.

DAR Good Citizens Award and Scholarship Contest

This award recognizes and rewards individuals who possess good citizenship qualities of dependability, service, leadership, and patriotism at home, at school, and in the community. This program is open only to seniors at accredited high schools. Only one student per year may be honored as a school's DAR Good Citizen. Once a student is chosen as the DAR Good Citizen, the student is invited to participate in the scholarship portion of the program. This consists of a personal statement and an essay. If you are an educator, please contact our chapter for more information. If you are a student or parent, please contact your school.