The Major Jacob Gray Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution held its annual awards ceremony on Saturday at the Jacksonville Museum of Military History.
Award recipients included state Sen. Jane English (R-North Little Rock), former state Rep. Sandra Prater (D-Jacksonville) and Phyllis Stewart, chief of staff for the Jacksonville-North Pulaski School District.
The awards were presented after reciting the Pledge of Allegiance and the American’s Creed.
Ty Brendan Copeland, a senior at Cabot High School, was recognized as the chapter’s DAR Good Citizen winner. Taylor Rayanne Toombs, a Jacksonville High School senior, was runner-up, as was Haley N. Owens, a Beebe High School senior, who was unable to attend the ceremony.
“The NSDAR DAR Good Citizens Committee recognizes and rewards senior high school students who exemplify the qualities of a good citizen: Dependability, service, leadership and patriotism. The students are selected by their respective schools for this honor. As the chapter winner, Ty Copeland’s entry was submitted for consideration at the state level. They were presented certificates, wallet cards, lapel pins, and a small monetary award by committee chair Mary Ford,” according to a news release from Junelle Mongno.
Delaney Daniel of Beebe High School won the group’s annual $750 scholarship. He was unable to attend and will be honored at the chapter’s May meeting.
The Women in American History subcommittee of the NSDAR American History Committee recognizes women who have contributed to their communities.
Certificates were presented to English, Prater and Mary Lee Schultz by DAR chapter regent Jayne Spears, Mary Ford and Junelle Mongno.
English has served in the state Senate’s 34th District since 2013. She was state representative for the 42nd District from 2009-13.
Prater, a registered nurse, served in the Arkansas House of Representatives for the 42nd District from 2003-09. She serves on the board of directors of CareLinks and Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families.
Schultz is an Arkansas State Society DAR honorary state regent, having served as state regent from 2008-10.
She was instrumental in founding the Rock Society of the Children of the American Revolution, sponsored by the Major Jacob Gray chapter and is the ASDAR state C.A.R. committee chair. She volunteers with many groups.
Stewart was honored for helping launch the new Jacksonville school district. She is resigning from the district this summer.
Two posthumous awards were also given to the late Murrell Taylor and Dr. Ruth Couch.
Taylor was recognized for her contributions to the education of Jacksonville children. An elementary school carries her name today.
Couch was emeritus professor of English and the first female vice chancellor for academic affairs at ASU-Beebe. She was the first person to become a full professor at ASU-Beebe. She served as director of the Beebe Chamber of Commerce for 10 years and authored historical booklets.
