Rebecca Dewey Chapter Good Citizen’s and Community Service Awards

Three Oaks, MI – April 15, 2022

Our Good Citizen’s and Community Service Awards reception was a success!

The Rebecca Dewey Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, held its annual Good Citizen even on Sunday April 3 at the Three Oaks United Methodist Church.

Three of the six local high schools submitted a Good Citizen essay, and three of the winners were able to come to our Sunday event, the other two were on Spring Break this week. The students are:

Lillian Moore – River Valley High Schools and is anticipating going to the University of Northwestern Ohio for Agribusiness and Marketing; Karla Avina-Rios – Brandywine High School has future plans to work in Physical Therapy; Marika Ruppart – Niles High School and anticipates to graduate with an Associates in General Studies from Lake Michigan College Andrews University; Jane Kaspar – Bridgman High School looking into study neuroscience and then attend medical school; Georgia Arvanitis – New Buffalo High School and is looking to pursue a career in Kinesiology, in either athletic training or Physical Therapy.

We found out that Nancy Zilke Seldomridge is a past winner herself.

Community Service Committee Chair, Michelle Heit, presented community service awards for two organizations, Neighbor by Neighbor, Linnea Berg, Executive Director from Buchanan, and Red Bud Area Ministries, Jan Nowak Walters. Their President Darlene Clevenger was not able to attend. The groups assist in food, relocation, job, and housing assistance, and anywhere else there is a need.

Our “Woman in History” award was given to Mrs. Sarah Lee, a past Chapter Regent and great-grandmother to Chaplain, Priscilla Lee Hellenga. Mrs. Lee was known as the Bonnet Lady but also made hoods or dresses for twins, triplets, quadruplets and special babies.

The 2021 Outstanding Chapter Member is Teri Showalter. Teri has been a member of this chapter for 2 years and the DAR for 7 years. She serves as the Chapter Treasurer, American250! and American History Chairwoman.

About the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, Rebecca Dewey Chapter: The Rebecca Dewey Chapter, NSDAR, Three Oaks, Michigan, was organized July 9, 1909, with a membership of seventeen.  It was chartered December 21, 1909, with fourteen members.  Since Three Oaks had secured the Dewey Cannon at the close of the Spanish-American War, it was decided to name the Chapter after Admiral Dewey’s great grandmother.  Rebecca Dewey Chapter NSDAR currently has 30 Members.