Congratulations to Shaker High School senior Anna Ryu on recently being named the recipient of the 2021 NYS DAR District III scholarship!
The Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Good Citizens Award and Scholarship Contest, created in 1934, is intended to encourage and reward the qualities of good citizenship. It recognizes students in their senior year of high school who possess the qualities of dependability, service, leadership and patriotism in their homes, schools and communities. These students are nominated and selected by faculty because they demonstrate these qualities to an outstanding degree.
The Mohawk Chapter of DAR recognizes and awards three local Good Citizens annually from Albany High, Colonie Central and Shaker High Schools.
Anna Ryu is this year’s SHS DAR Good Citizen. Based on her outstanding application and essay, she is also the District III winner of the Good Citizen scholarship, one of eight students throughout NYS recognized for their service and dedication to the qualities of good citizenship.
“Anna defined impact as the depth of change brought about to her innate way of thinking,” said SHS teacher Saskia Dolan. “Today, we honor the impact Anna has had on our innate way of thinking. You are a role model for all who are lucky enough to know and work with you.”
In addition to taking college-level courses, Anna participates in a number of extracurricular activities. She is a member of the Empire State Youth Orchestra and NYS Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble; she was named a WMHT Classical Student Musician of the Month in February 2020; she was a TEDxSHS Lead Organizer for TEDx conference; she serves as the editor-in-chief of the school newspaper and the senior co-chair of the Girls Take Charge empowerment club bridging junior high and high schools.
“It’s an incredible honor—this definitely goes without saying,” said Anna Ryu. “The qualities that this program highlights are ones that I always hope to embody, and so it means so much to receive this recognition. Above all else, this award has encouraged me to reflect on how I can continue growing with these four qualities—redefining and reaching new understandings of what they mean, and ultimately more effectively putting them into action in my life to become a better member of my community. It feels like a launching pad and an inspiring reminder, more than anything else, to continue aiming to be a better community member, citizen, and human.”
