Local teacher, students take home DAR awards in November ceremony

HOLLAND — Holland’s Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) named Holland Middle School’s Derek Orme its 2023-2024 Outstanding Teacher of American History.

The award was presented during Education Achievement Awards Night, held in the Howard Miller Community Center on Nov. 13.

Orme graduated from Colorado State University in 2006. To be selected for the award, nominees must teach history at the middle school or high school level, have an incisive knowledge of history they share with students, demonstrate the ability to relate history to modern life and events, and hold students to high academic standards.

In addition to Orme's award, a dozen local high school seniors were chosen for their school’s 2023-24 DAR Good Citizen Award. They include:

• Leah Snyder, Allegan High School

• Catelyn Danckaert, Black River Public School

• Alondra Martinez-Aguilar, Bloomingdale High School

• Natalie Wyman, Fennville High School

• Alexandra Bakker, Grand Haven High School

• Henry Mulder, Holland High School

• Baylee VanderZwaag, Holland Christian High School

• Jacey Merkle, Saugatuck High School

• Kelsey Hodgman, South Haven High School

• Lorraine Deur, West Ottawa High School

• Jaiden Lee, Zeeland East High School

• Cora Mielke, Zeeland West High School

The DAR Good Citizens Program is open to all high school seniors enrolled in public or private schools accredited and in good standing with their state board of education.

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They must show specific qualities, ranging from dependability and leadership to patriotism and service.

— Contact reporter Austin Metz at ametz@hollandsentinel.com.

This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Local teacher, students take home DAR awards in November ceremony