James Tenesaca DeMaster, fifth grade Memorial student, and Opal Primozich, eighth grade Duniway student, have been named winners in the annual American History essay contest sponsored by the Yamhill chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR).
This year’s essay explored the 100th anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment in June 1919, which granted all American women the right to vote and hold elective office. Students were charged with imagining living during the period of the women’s suffrage movement and discussing the pros and cons the amendment, which was considered politically and socially radical at the time.
James’ essay depicted a family’s struggle with the idea of women’s suffrage with viewpoints of both the mother and father. Opal’s essay was written from the perspective of a newspaperman whose support for suffrage was influenced by the death of his twin sister who had been arrested and died for the cause.
The students will be awarded a bronze “Excellence in History” medal and certificate, as well as a $50 cash prize. Their entries will move forward to the state contest and potentially the national competition in May.
The contest received more than 30 entries this year and was judged by three retired teachers, who awarded points based on historical accuracy, originality, and writing principles such as organization, spelling and grammar.
The Yamhill chapter of the DAR was formed in 1922 and is devoted to promoting historic preservation, education and patriotism.
2/4/2019