NORTHFIELD — Pioneer Valley Regional School senior Elizabeth Fuller was experiencing a typical autumn day, juggling schoolwork, sports, a part-time job and community service, when she got some news she’d never been expecting.
Assistant Principal Jennifer Albert Perry told Fuller she’d been selected by her teachers for a Good Citizens award offered by the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR).
“I couldn’t believe it,” Fuller said. “Out of everyone in my class? There’s so many kids in my class that do so much and I was so surprised that they thought I would be the best fit for this award.”
Having shown concern for their communities and a number of esteemed values, several Franklin and Hampshire County students have been recognized with Good Citizens awards.
According to a DAR press release, the national program has been encouraging and rewarding the qualities of good citizenship since 1934, and is open to all senior students enrolled in accredited secondary schools that are in good standing with their respective state Boards of Education.
This year, the local Betty Allen chapter in Northampton awarded seven students with Good Citizens awards, one from each participating school including Fuller and Daniel Szafran of Mohawk Trail Regional High School. Each student receives a certificate, pin and wallet card.
According to the DAR, the selected students all demonstrated dependability, service, leadership and patriotism.
In her application, Fuller outlined various community service activities. For example, Fuller babysits for members of Northfield Elementary School’s Parent-Teacher Organization during meetings, and assists with ticket and bake sales.
Fuller’s list of extracurricular activities includes working as a cashier at Foster’s Supermarket in Greenfield, playing on Pioneer’s softball and volleyball teams, and coaching a softball team of elementary school girls in pitching techniques. Through her membership with the National Honor Society, she has also participated in a food drive benefiting the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts.
Fuller said she feels inspired to better the community through service, act as a positive role model for her two younger sisters and be a good leader for her teammates.
Additionally, each award applicant was encouraged to submit an optional essay answering the prompt, “How do the combined actions of many good citizens keep our nation moving forward?” Fuller was recently notified that she’d won the essay contest as well, having written about how various historical events kept the nation moving forward and how “it’s our responsibility to preserve the American heritage.”
According to the DAR, Fuller’s essay will be sent on to a state-level contest for entry into its scholarship program.