Ronan student wins state DAR contest
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James Normandeau of Ronan High School accepts a first place scholarship.
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MONTANA – The Montana State Society Daughters of the American Revolution is proud to announce that James Normandeau, a graduating senior at Ronan High School, was one of two state winners of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution’s Good Citizen essay contest. The other winner is Tessa J. Harmon, of Kalispell, a graduating senior at Stillwater Christian School. Each student received a scholarship for $500, a state pin and a certificate.
James was the winner of the Kuilix Chapter NSDAR contest which qualified him for the state contest. One DAR Good Citizen is selected by each school that wishes to participate, and the student must have the qualities of dependability, service, leadership and patriotism. The winner from each school can then choose to enter the scholarship contest, which consists of the student describing how he/she has tried to manifest the qualities of a good citizen. They also must complete a timed essay without assistance or reference materials. This year’s essay topic title was, “Our American Heritage and Our Responsibility for Preserving It.” The focus question was, “You and your peers are our nation’s leaders of tomorrow. How would you energize America’s youth to fully engage as effective citizens? Why is that important?” There were 54 Good Citizens recognized around the state with 51 of those students participating in the essay contest.
James was very active at school having served as class president, student body treasurer, cross country captain, track and field co-captain, president of the Fine Arts Team and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He was a member of the National Honor Society and Indigenous Scholars of Promise, and he attended Boys State. He was valedictorian of the 2020 Class at Ronan High School. Outside of school, he volunteered at blood drives, Big Brothers and Big Sisters, St. Luke Community Healthcare’s annual foundation dinner, elementary reading program, student leader at New Life Church, assisted the Pablo Council on Aging, and gave sermons at a nursing home.
In the fall, James will enroll at Carroll College in Helena on a pre-med track with a major in biochemistry. He stated, “His interest in medicine developed from a love of science and a passion for helping people. Put together with the lessons in leadership I learned while attending Boy’s State, I know I can make a difference in our world and lead others towards positive change. It is my goal, in whatever career path I eventually choose, to go to bed every night knowing I made someone’s day better.”
DAR is a non-profit, non-partisan professional organization of chapters in all 50 states, its territories, and 13 other countries dedicated to historic preservation, education and patriotism for all women who love America and the principles of liberty and equal opportunity for all. For more information about the DAR, please send an email to KuilixDAR@gmail.com or online at www.dar.org.
