Edith "Edee" Brunia, State Regent, 2022-2024

Mary Petersen, Chairman

All Iowa Chapters are encouraged to conduct the American History Essay contest and the Patriots of the American Revolution contest each year. For the American History Essay, all 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students in a public, private or parochial school, or those who are home schooled are eligible. For the Patriots of the American Revolution, all high school student in a public, private or parochial school, or those home schooled are eligible. Get the word out! The local newspaper and radio stations are a good way to do this.

American History Essay Contest Information!

1. The deadline for chapter winning essays to be delivered to the State American History chairperson is January 15, 2023. Chapters are responsible to set their deadlines for essays to be presented to them, but please be realistic, knowing it will take time and reflection to choose the best essays for your chapter submission.
2. You are able to email (.pdf only) your entire Chapter winner’s packets of information to the State Chair in lieu of USPS. Each chapter is responsible for ensuring that ALL attachments are provided. Upon delivery of an emailed entry, the state chair will respond with a receipt of delivery. The only email utilized is the State Chair email below. As always you can still send your winner’s information via USPS.
3. The Guidelines for Judges, found online at and in the National Information Packet (NIP) or at this URL: https://www.dar.org/sites/default/files/members/darnet/forms/AHC-1001.pdf and is to be used to score each essay and award points. Essays for each grade level with the highest points, will need to be sent on for further competition. PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR JUDGING SHEETS WITH YOUR CHAPTER SUBMISSIONS!
4. The Information for Chapters and School use can be found in the NIP or at this URL: https://www.dar.org/sites/default/files/members/darnet/forms/AHC-1000.pdf
5. Here is the link to the DAR Store for Certificates and Chapter Winner Medals: https://shop.dar.org/dar-store/kaw-committee-awards/kaw-american-history/

Title for 2022-2023 – The 2^nd Continental Congress

Topic: The 2^nd Continental Congress met from May 10, 1775-March 1, 1781, and included delegates from all thirteen colonies. This Congress was instrumental in shaping what was to become the United States of America. Imagine that you are a delegate during the 1775-1776 Second Continental Congress. Which colony are you from and what will be important for you to accomplish for your colony?

2022-2023:  Patriots of the American Revolution DAR High School Essay Contest Information!

1. In 2021, NSDAR established a new high school-level essay contest focused on figures of the American Revolution, in preparation for the 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding. The contest is open to students in grades 9 through 12 in public, private, or parochial schools, or those who are home schooled. This contest is conducted without regard to race, religion, sex, or national origin. All grades will be judged together, with one winner chosen.
2. Students are encouraged to use primary sources (i.e., immediate, first-hand accounts such as letters, diaries, speeches or newspaper reports) for their research, lesser well-known figures are acceptable, but subjects must have been actual participants, i.e. not fictionalized.
3. The deadline for winning essays to be delivered to the State American History chairperson is January 15, 2023. Chapters are responsible to set their deadlines for essays to be presented to them, but please be realistic, knowing it will take time and reflection to choose the best essays for your chapter submission.
4. You are able to email (.pdf only) your entire Chapter winner’s packets of information to the State Chair in lieu of USPS. Each chapter is responsible for ensuring that ALL attachments are provided. Upon delivery of an emailed entry, the state chair will respond with a receipt of delivery. The only email utilized is the State Chair email below. As always you can still send your winner’s information via USPS.
5. The Guidelines for Judges, found online at and in the National Information Packet (NIP) or at this URL: https://www.dar.org/sites/default/files/members/darnet/forms/AHC-1003.pdf and is to be used to score each essay and award points. Essays with the highest points will need to be sent on for further competition. PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR JUDGING SHEETS WITH YOUR CHAPTER SUBMISSIONS!
6. The Information for Chapters and School use can be found in the NIP or at this URL: https://www.dar.org/sites/default/files/members/darnet/forms/AHC-1002.pdf
7. Here is the link to the DAR Store for Certificates and Chapter Winner Medals: https://shop.dar.org/dar-store/kaw-committee-awards/kaw-american-history/

Title for 2022-2023 – Select a figure from the era of the American Revolution (1773-1783)

Discuss how he or she influenced the course of the American Revolution, who he or she was and his/her contribution to the founding of a new nation. Your figure may be any person, whether a well-known figure or an everyday man, woman or child who supported the American Revolution in ways large or small.

2022-2023 Women in American History

The emphasis of Women in American History is on the role of women, past and present, in American history. Chapters are encouraged to select a notable woman from their state or community to honor. March is officially "Women's History Month," so chapters may wish to use this occasion to acknowledge the outstanding contributions of the woman of their choice.

Choose a woman to honor for this recognition by taking into consideration women who have made a contribution or a difference in their communities. She could be a historical entity or currently alive and worthy of recognition. Look for women who are, or have been, intellectual, educational, social, religious, political, scientific, or cultural innovators. The woman or women being honored may be DAR members, prospective DAR members, or non-members. You may select more than one woman to honor.

It is especially recommended that your chapter focus one chapter function on your honoree so that special tribute can be paid to her. Chapters have had luncheons, teas, programs - literary and musical - at special locations to specifically honor their selected woman or women in American History. If alive, the honoree(s) should be invited to the chapter function so that special tribute can be paid.

Each chapter honoring a woman is asked to prepare a 100-word report about her, with a photo, if available. Use the form found at http://www.dar.org/sites/default/files/members/darnet/forms/AHC-1006.pdf. These reports may be sent throughout the year to the state chairman, but the final deadline is April 1, 2023. Here is the link to the DAR Store for Winners Certificates and Medals: https://shop.dar.org/dar-store/kaw-committee-awards/kaw-american-history/

Excellence in American History DAR Award

Chapters may recognize an outstanding student of American History. (REMINDER THIS IS SEPARATE FROM THE ESSAY CONTESTS!!) There is a Certification of award and a bronze medal to be awarded. The Chapter may determine elegibility and criteria for this award for any student in any grade. This does NOT need to come through this State Chairperson for verification, but is always appreciated if there is time. The link for the certificate is: https://shop.dar.org/dar- store/kaw-committee-awards/kaw-american-history/ As always if you have questions, don’t hesitate to contact me.