NATCHEZ — Local students will present their award-winning essays today during the annual Daughters of the American Revolution essay contest at historic Rosalie.

The students will be honored for their accomplishments at a joint meeting of the Natchez and William Dunbar chapters of the Daughters of the American Revolution meeting hosted at 3 p.m.

Natchez’s chapter of the DAR representative Mary Ellen Rosenblatt said it is the tradition of the Natchez DAR to have the winners of the DAR essay contests read their work at the monthly meeting.

This year, Rosenblatt said two local students placed first in state essay contests. Chloe Curlee, a sixth-grade student at Cathedral Middle School, won first in the American History essay contest and Hayes Daly, a junior at Cathedral High School, placed first in the Christopher Columbus essay contest.

“We’re really proud of our students for placing first this year,” said Rosenblatt. “If you can imagine, (with) one chapter having 14 different schools, how many students they were competing against across the chapters in the entire state.”

Other local winners who made it to the state contest this year are Drew Sessions, an eighth-grade student at Wilkinson County Christian Academy who placed third at state in American History, and McKenzie Bryant, a seventh-grade student at Wilkinson County Christian Academy.

Each student will present their essays at the joint meeting today.

“We are so proud of these students and their accomplishments and the hard work and dedication of their teachers,” said Rosenblatt.

Rosenblatt said the state winners of the DAR essay contest would be sent for regional judging.

In addition to the honored students, Rosenblatt said Chuck Borum, a physician at Borum Family Health Clinic, will be presented with the community service award at today’s meeting.

Borum has been previously recognized for developing the Natchez Powwow at the Grand Village of the Natchez Indians among many other accomplishments .

Rosenblatt said Borum is a very deserving recipient of the award for his long list of achievements.

 

Story by: Sabrina Simms