The Fairfax County chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), recently presented two local students with the DAR Good Citizens Award in recognition of their outstanding qualities of good citizenship: dependability, service, leadership and patriotism.
The recipients, Kara Park of Oakton High School and Christopher “Bo” Kuhblank of James Madison High School, each received a certificate, DAR Good Citizen pin and a monetary award.
Park has excelled in her classes, which include Advanced Placement (AP) U.S. History, AP Chemistry, Japanese 3, and Photojournalism and Digital Art, DAR leaders said.
She has been a Girl Scout for 13 years, earning Bronze and Silver awards and soon a Gold Award for her project to create first-hand historical accounts from people who grew up in Oakton and people from other parts of the world now living in Oakton. The initiative will provide a collection of primary resources for Oakton High School’s social-studies department.
Park is president of the school’s Computer Graphics Club, vice president of its National Art Honor Society, and editor in chief of the Oakton High School yearbook. She also is the public-forum coach in the school’s Debate Club, where she trains novice debaters. She plans to major in public administration or political science in college.
Kuhblank has earned the respect of his teachers for his superlative work ethic, character and his enthusiastic leadership as someone who “lifts and motivates others around him,” his nominators said.
He is an Advanced Diploma candidate for 2022 and is also a student-athlete. Besides playing both varsity baseball and basketball and serving as captain on both teams, he is a lifeguard at his community pool during summers. His community-service activities include participating in Food For Others and serving as president of the Young Men’s Service League.
Kuhblank has participated in welcoming several Honor Flight arrivals at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. His conversations with those there inspired and instilled in him a deep pride in the U.S. and gratitude for its soldiers, his nominators said.
The DAR Good Citizens program and scholarship contest is intended to encourage and reward the qualities of good citizenship. The program is open to all senior-class students.