Spirit of America Scholarship recipients tour old Philadelphia
Four area high school juniors recently attended the Spirit of America Youth Leadership Conference on the campus of the Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge (FFVF).
Before returning home on the last day of this four-day conference, they toured several sights in Philadelphia’s historic district including Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell.
The four scholarship recipients are Tahi Wiggins and Jerry Turner of Northumberland High School, Bryan Graulich of Middlesex High School and Blake Smith of Lancaster High School.
Activities included a Mock Congress where they debated portions of the Patriot Act to determine the constitutionality of certain sections; a free enterprise exercise in which teams produced a product accompanied by an advertising pitch and presented to a panel of judges, reported Mary Ball Washington Chapter- FFVF education co-chairman Gerry Waring.
They also observed a debate between Thomas Jefferson and John Adams portrayed by historical re-enactors and toured the 52-acre Medal of Honor Grove on campus where recipients’ names from each state were engraved in the granite obelisk for that state, said Waring. Of special significance was the candlelight chapel service in which a historical re-enactor told what it was like to have signed his name on the Declaration of Independence risking not only his life, but that of his family and everything they owned. Each student was then given the opportunity to sign a copy of thisimportant document.
To qualify for a Spirit of America scholarship, juniors in the three high schools are nominated by their U.S. history teacher and are interviewed by a team from the Mary Ball Washington Chapter. Consideration is given to the student’s genuine interest in history, his academic record and involvement in school and community activities.
The four highest scoring students receive fully paid scholarships by the chapter to attend the conference. The scholarships are funded by donations from organizations and fundraising events sponsored by the chapter.
The chapter thanks Revere Gas, Estate Assurance Systems, Inc., Northern Neck Kiwanis, Retired Teachers Association of the Northern Neck, Ross’s Rings and Things, Northern Neck Burger as well as private individuals for their support.
Article thanks to Rappahannock Record