Middle School Student Wins DAR Essay Contest

A Westchester Country Day School student was recognized as the winner of a local and regional American history essay contest.

Finch Lambeth, a sixth grade student, received the chapter award from the Alexander Martin chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). He was also named the district-level winner. He was selected among middle school students in the High Point area for the chapter award, as well as students from across 11 districts in the Piedmont for the district-level award. 

His essay is written from the point of view of a newspaper reporter in Philadelphia in 1897 witnessing the live performance of John Philip Sousa’s patriotic march “The Stars and Stripes Forever” for the first time. Finch researched the life of Sousa and wrote about the first performance of this well-known march. 

At a luncheon hosted by the DAR, Finch was joined by his parents and WCDS faculty. He was awarded a certificate and cash prize after reading aloud his essay to the audience of DAR Alexander Martin chapter members.