Daily Reporter staff reports
HANCOCK COUNTY — Although state and national conferences for the Daughters of the American Revolution have been canceled, the local Major Hugh Dinwiddie Chapter members have kept busy with chapter work by letter, email and phone.
Vance Toth, a seventh-grader from Knightstown Intermediate School, was a second-place winner in the American Essay Contest.
Three Mary Ellen Ward scholarships were presented. The first recipient was Madelyn White, an Eastern Hancock High School senior who plans to attend Ball State to be an elementary school teacher. Nolan Renie, a Charles A. Beard Schools senior, received the second scholarship. Renie is going to Anderson University to study computer science. Alexa Walker, a student at Butler University, was the third recipient. Walker, who is working on a degree in the biomedical field, received the award for the second time.
This is the second year for the Mary Ellen Ward Scholarship. Ward was a member of the Dinwiddie chapter who believed in education, patriotism and family. In order for the chapter to continue its good word, Ward left provisions for a scholarship in a trust.
Good Citizen award recipients were Allison N. Kingery from Tri High and Landon G. Carmichael from Charles A. Beard schools.
The chapter recently held the election of officers by mail. The new officers for the 2020-22 term are: regent, Denise Akers; vice regent, Brenda Cotton; registrar, Amelia Wyatt; chaplain, Linda Ashwill; treasurer, Dianne Taylor; assistant treasurer, Judy Martin; secretary, Sherry Rigney; historian, N. Darlene Petry; librarian, Lori (May) Pierce.
Amelia Wyatt and Denise Akers have made and donated more than 50 masks, with most of them going to Meals on Wheels volunteers who deliver hot meals to the elderly and handicapped. Indiana DAR has made approximately 6,716 masks while the United States DAR has made a total of 257,140 as of May 1.
A grave dedication is scheduled to take place at 10 a.m. on June 6 at Bentonville Cemetery. The John Conner Chapter and Jeanie Hornung, honorary state regent, will be in attendance.
The group discussed ideas for an upcoming centennial celebration. Linda Ashwill is planning an August field trip. The group’s next meeting is scheduled for 1 p.m. June 6.
