High school senior Jeff Rice has been named a finalist for the National Merit Scholar designation; senior Matt Morneault finished second in the Elks district scholarships; and senior Lisa Wiens was named ??? by the Daughters of the American Revolution.
The National Merit Scholarship Program is an academic competition for recognition and scholarships that began in 1955. High school students, approximately 1.3 million, enter the competition by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholar Qualifying Test. Of the entrants, 15,000 make to the finalist stage. Finalists may be named National Merit Scholars.
Morneault received a $450 scholarship locally from the Elks and $1,400 at the district level. Locally, Elisa McCartin placed first among the girls, earning a $450 scholarship.
Megan Henson placed second, $250; and Abby Knight placed third, $100.
Among boys, Jeff Rice placed second, $250; and Mark Lewis placed third, $100.
Wiens’ DAR essay
Freedom, equality, opportunity for all. These three ideals are the foundation of America.
They are what we strive for in government and guarantee in our Constitution. Freedom, equality and opportunity for all is the reason America was founded. They are the reason millions have died in war, giving up their lives for these sound ideals.
In order to guarantee these ideals for future generations, we must educate and keep alive the events of our heritage that exemplified or denounced these qualities.
Our heritage clearly shows our triumphs and disasters relating to freedom, equality and opportunity for all, places where freedom and equality were the ultimate goal, such as the Revolutionary War and our present war in Iraq. It also displays our failures, such as the Japanese internment camps and slavery in the 1800s.
We are not a perfect nation, but our failures have made us stronger. When present leaders reflect on situations in the past, they need only decipher if the event displayed the three above mentioned. From our very beginnings in this land to gay marriage today, there is hardly a single issue that does not deal with these things.
Our heritage is so unique and diverse, it is something to be treasured. We can see the differences in our nation over the years, how much it has grown and how much our differences have unified us a nation.
Our beginnings and changes are a part of our history and are shaping our future. Equality, freedom and opportunity for all are three ideals that have created the America we know today. They will be with us and shape us in the future if we remember.
History can teach us so much. It shows what has worked in the past and what will work in the future. We need to do everything possible to preserve that past.
Students, the next generation, need to continually be taught our heritage. The events and stories need to be implanted in the minds of young people in this land.
History needs to become alive and real. That is how history will continue to be passed down, child by child. It is not for the books that history happened but for the people. Give it to them to carry with pride and honor.
Let equality, freedom and opportunity for all be preserved in the heads and minds of all Americans in this great country.
Morneault’s Elks Essay
Franklin Delano Roosevelt is possibly the greatest American in our nation’s history.
Obviously, because of his great work through the Depression but for returning to office for a second, third and fourth term not to advance his career or any other self-gratifying things but merely because of the edge of war we were upon and his selfless service to his country.
All of these accolades are magnified when you are reminded that he spent most of his life confined to a wheelchair suffering from polio.
Even a short handshake, with this man would be an amazing experience. An all-out discussion is beyond words. President Roosevelt would be eager to express his views on the current issues in our world today.
We could probably learn a lot from him on our current economic and social problems, such as unemployment, welfare and healthcare costs and coverage.
Light may be shed on the attitude of Americans and their lack of national pride and service to country.
These values have definitely declined since FDR’s days though they are not near extinction. People would be apt to rethink their opinions of our government if roused by this intensely respected president and American icon.
Meeting someone like this would definitely be inspiring and unforgettable. The most important lessons learned would not be on global issues or the economy but solid American values, like character, diligence and integrity.
McCartin’s Elks Essay
If I had the opportunity to meet one great leader from the past, I would like to meet Abraham Lincoln.
He was a courageous leader who led our country through the most devastating experience in our nation’s history after having overcome many obstacles and setbacks.
In my experience in leadership I know that to be a good leader one must be able to withstand opposition and defeat, something Abraham Lincoln knew very well. He failed as a businessman, as a farmer, in political office when he ran for the United States Senate and many other times; yet he never gave up.
Our meeting place would be Gettysburg, Pa., where there is a memorial dedicated to the soldiers of the Civil War. When I was young, I visited Gettysburg, but I was too young to understand what the war had been about. I do remember looking out and seeing many white grave markers in the ground and knowing that many people had died there.
I think that if I was able to visit this memorial again with Lincoln, I could get a better perspective of what it was really like. I would ask him, “If you knew that so many people would lose their lives in this war, would you have done anything differently? What do you think the United States would be like today if the Confederates had won the Civil War instead of the Union Army? Would we be as powerful as we are today? Do you think some families would still own slaves?”
I would discuss with Lincoln how he became such a good leader through all of his struggles. I would ask him how he found the strength to keep going when so many people were against him.
“Was it inner strength that helped you maintain your determination or was it the people you surrounded yourself with that helped you not get discouraged?”
I know that, for me, having family and friends who believe in me, no matter how many times I fail, helps me remain confident.
The last thing I would want to know from Abraham Lincoln would be, “If you had one piece of advice that you think would help me as I leave home and venture out to the college world, what would it be?”
In my meeting with Lincoln, I hope I would go away with a new perspective on what it takes to be a good leader and put it into practice in my own life and make a difference in the lives of those around me.