Schools & Education
The Ruth Wyllys Chapter supports the students of Hartford
Public Schools by honoring eligible students each year with
Good Citizens Awards & Scholarships and American History
Essay Awards.
DAR Good Citizens Awards
The DAR Good Citizens Award, started in 1934, is intended
to encourage and reward the qualities of good citizenship
among high school students.
This award recognizes and rewards high school seniors who
possess the qualities of dependability, service, leadership, and
patriotism in their homes, schools, and communities.
Students are selected by their teachers and peers because
they demonstrate these qualities to an outstanding degree.
The Ruth Wyllys Chapter also provides a small scholarship to
each winning student to help defray college costs.
Education
Patriotism
Since 1892, the Ruth Wyllys Chapter has
joined with other DAR chapters nationwide
in support of the restoration and maintenance
of some of our nation’s most important
historic buildings, landmarks and memorials.
Some of these include:
what we do
The Ruth Wyllys Chapter works with
Hartford-area schools to inform students
about the many scholarships available
through the National Society of the DAR.
Generous scholarships are available to
outstanding students in the areas of:
American History, History, Political Science,
Preservation, Medicine, Nursing, and
Occupational and Physical Therapy.
College scholarships are also offered
to qualifying students graduating from
DAR schools, disabled students, and
to children of DAR members.
The DAR Scholarship Committee
awards scholarships to qualified
applicants regardless of race, religion,
sex or national origin. Applicants
must be citizens of the United States
and must attend or plan to attend an
accredited college or university in the
United States.
Chapter sponsorship through the Ruth
Wyllys chapter is not required;
however, we will work with the applicant
to put information together to send to the
DAR Scholarship Committee.
•
DAR Library (Lay Light Restorations)
•
Ellsworth Homestead, Windsor, CT
•
Independence Hall, Philadelphia
•
Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, NY
•
World War II Memorial, DC
•
U.S. Capitol Building, DC
•
Trail Monuments to commemorate
sacrifices of pioneer women who
blazed trails to the West
•
Re-forestation projects with U.S.
Forestry Service during the 1940s.
•
Maintenance of historic sites and
patriot gravesites nationwide, including
Hartford’s Ancient Burying Ground.
The DAR sponsors special programs and
public service announcements during the
week of September 17-23 to celebrate
Constitution Week. The goal is to inform
and educate the public about the
U.S. Constitution, a document that is
fundamental to our society.
On a local level, the Ruth Wyllys Chapter
visits Hartford-area schools and libraries
to provide information and educational
materials about our nation’s Constitution
and to promote the celebration of
Constitution Week.
Naturalization Ceremonies: Ruth Wyllys Chapter members participate in
naturalization ceremonies held at the Hartford Public Library (and elsewhere),
providing flags, leaflets, manuals, and moral support.
American Flag Distribution: We provide American flags, as needed, to schools,
government bodies, military establishments, and civic organizations throughout
Hartford County. (A booklet, "Flag Code of the United States of America," is
published by DAR and distributed free to schools and organizations.)
Constitution Week: Our chapter’s goal during Constitution Week is to:
•
Emphasize citizens' responsibilities for protecting and
defending the Constitution.
•
Inform people that the Constitution is the basis for America's
great heritage and the foundation for our way of life.
•
Encourage the study of the historical events which led to the
framing of the Constitution in September 1787.
Service to Veterans
The Ruth Wyllys Chapter actively serves our
Veterans with care packages during the holidays.
We participate in Hartford’s annual Veterans Day
Parade by marching, riding the Connecticut DAR
(CTDAR) float and handing out flags to the crowd.
We honor fallen veterans by participating in the
“Wreaths Across America” program each December.
Nationally, DAR members volunteer their time
to provide assistance to veterans in both
VA hospitals and non-VA facilities and provide
more than 55,000 hours of volunteer time to
veterans annually.
American History Essay Awards
The Ruth Wyllys Chapter also grants an American History Essay Award each year to
one deserving middle-school student from a Hartford-area school. Essays are written
by the students on a topic in American History. Teachers and family members also join
us for this very special springtime event.
Over the years, members of the Ruth Wyllys chapter have contributed their time
and money toward the preservation of several local Revolutionary-Era and historic
landmarks, including Hartford’s Ancient Burying Ground and the Ellsworth
Homestead, home to American lawyer and politician Oliver Ellsworth who helped
draft the US Constitution and served as the third Chief Justice of the United States
as well as Senator from Connecticut.
For younger students, we offer the DAR Good Citizenship Medal
presented to children in grades 5-11 who exemplify the qualities of
honor, service, courage, leadership, and patriotism.
Historic Preservation
photo credits: Bonnie Grover Graphic Design and Christine Petit Photography
Ellsworth Homestead, Windsor, CT
Hartford’s Ancient Burying Ground
(home to the Wyllys family plot)
