The Liberty Bell chapter of National Society Daughters of the American Revolution held its annual awards ceremony April 26 in the family center at Jordan Lutheran Church, Orefield. Local high school seniors were presented with DAR Good Citizen Awards, and cadets participating in local military’s programs were awarded DAR Cadet Medals.

Zoe Roth, from Catasauqua High School, received the 2025 DAR Good Citizen Award.

The Good Citizen committee began in 1934 as the DAR Good Citizen Pilgrimage. The awards were only presented to senior girls from four-year high schools.

The present-day DAR Good Citizen committee was created in 1952. The purpose of the committee is to recognize and reward male and female high school seniors who exemplify the qualities of a good citizen, dependability, service, leadership and patriotism. The recipient must demonstrate the qualities of a good citizen in his or her home, school and community environment.

The recipients of the Liberty Bell chapter’s 2025 DAR Good Citizen Awards were judged based on these qualities of a good citizen. Recipients were chosen by their high schools’ guidance counselors. Some students’ entries also included an optional essay for the DAR Good Citizen Scholarship contest.

The students receiving the 2025 DAR Good Citizen Awards, in addition to Roth, were Isabella Muth, Whitehall High School; Cecilia Ruyak, Emmaus High School; Dekota Barthold, Northern Lehigh High School; Aidan Freeman, Northwestern Lehigh High School; Mariana Castilla Castano, Parkland High School; Cameron Kubinsky, Salisbury High School; Gijs Fooij, Southern Lehigh High School; and Daniela Pacheco-Correa, William Allen High School.

Each school recipient received a DAR Good Citizen pin, personalized certificate and a Liberty Bell chapter honor cord.

Cameron Kubinsky, of Salisbury High School, had the winning essay in the DAR Scholarship essay contest and received a monetary award from the Liberty Bell chapter.

The National Defense Committee of the Daughters of the American Revolution was established in 1926 and, since 1967, awards medals yearly to students participating in junior ROTC programs. In 2013, the NSDAR National Defense Committee established the Outstanding Cadet Medal to be given to cadets from non-ROTC military-affiliated cadet programs, locally that being the Naval Sea Cadet Corps. The junior ROTC and outstanding cadet recipients are chosen by their commanders based on their performances in their respective units.

The 2025 DAR Junior ROTC Bronze Medal is awarded to a cadet who has shown the qualities of dependability and good character, adherence to military discipline, leadership and a fundamental understanding of the importance of ROTC training. Cadet 2nd Lieutenant Keisha Vazquez, from Louis E. Dieruff High School, junior ROTC Air Force program, and Cadet Lieutenant Illianna Williams, from William Allen High School, junior ROTC Naval program, received the 2025 DAR Junior ROTC Bronze Medal, a personalized certificate and a monetary gift for their outstanding performance in their junior ROTC respective units.

The Outstanding Cadet Medal is awarded to a cadet from non-ROTC military-affiliated cadet programs. This medal recognizes a cadet that has demonstrated outstanding leadership, honor, service, courage and patriotism. Cadet Petty Officer 2nd Class Tristan Gonzales, from Stroudsburg High School, participates in the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps, Lehigh Valley division. He received the DAR Outstanding Cadet Silver Medal, a personalized certificate and a monetary gift for his distinguished accomplishments in his corps division.

Members of the Liberty Bell chapter, school representatives, parents and family members attended the ceremony. Chapter Regent Loretta Igo opened the program with welcoming remarks. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Abigail Saul, chair of the DAR Good Citizen committee. Chaplain Debra McDermott gave the invocation. Igo and Saul presented the awards and medals. All recipients briefly told the audience a little about themselves and their future ambitions. Closing remarks by Igo included thanking parents for helping to guide these students in becoming strong examples of young citizens of the United States of America. McDermott gave the benediction.

The DAR is a women’s nonprofit social service organization whose mission is historic preservation, education and patriotism. The organization was founded in 1890. Its members are descended from the patriots who won American independence during the Revolutionary War. DAR members are committed to volunteer service in their communities, their states and their nation.

To learn more about the work of today’s DAR, visit DAR.org.