CSSDAR’s seventh grade State American History winner has won at the National level! Malavika Ramarao is a seventh grader at Challenger School Berryessa in San Jose. She was sponsored by Los Altos Chapter, Susan Ward, Chapter Regent and Carol Davis, American History Chairman. She and her family will be traveling to Washington, DC, where she will be presented with her award at the 123rd Continental Congress Educational Awards Night, Thursday, June 26. While in Washington, they will be given a tour of NSDAR Headquarters and will spend some time exploring our nation’s capital.
In her essay, Malavika took on the fictional persona of a 15 year old Quaker girl living with her family on a farm near Hillsborough, North Carolina, in 1781. Her father had joined the Free Quakers, a group that believed in fighting for freedom from the British and had become part of General Nathaniel Greene’s regiment. Her mother and she were left at the farm to care for the crops and keep the family together. Arriving at the Quaker Meeting House one Sunday, they find it taken over by British soldiers. The young girl, who occasionally sneaks into the gallery and sits quietly, unbothered by the soldiers who deem her harmless because of her Quaker faith, overhears soldiers talking about a plan to attack Camp Hyco, a patriot garrison. She and her mother decide that she must go to warn the patriots. She sets out on a day-long walk through byways and side roads to avoid being seen and arrives at dusk. When she tells the camp colonel what she has learned, he decides to make a surprise attack on the British and asks her to lead his soldiers back the way she came and direct them to the meeting house. With her help they arrive undetected, overrun the British headquarters, and take the soldiers prisoner. She, a young Quaker girl, had become part of the Revolution. To read Malavika’s essay, follow this link. [link to essay?]
Additionally, we have just learned that our CSSDAR 8th grade winner, Jack Palaski, took second place at the national level. Jack was the 7th grade National winner last year. Each national second and third place winner will receive a congratulatory letter, certificate and monetary award, which will be sent to them after Continental Congress.
The American History and Christopher Columbus Essay contests are two of the many ways that our Society promotes education. The California Society has been fortunate to have three national winners in the last two years. Congratulations to all the chapters, American History and Christopher Columbus Chairmen that spend much time and effort promoting the contests. The work is the hardest at the chapter level.
Barbara Volker