Members of the Don José Verdugo Chapter, National Society, Daughters of the American Revolution, honored local students during a luncheon meeting held recently at Oakmont Country Club. DAR presented them with the Society’s prestigious Good Citizen Award. The award, created by the National Society in 1934, is awarded to high school seniors who have been identified by their teachers and peers as possessing the qualities of leadership, dependability, service and patriotism in their homes as well as at school and in their communities. During the meeting, attended by parents, teachers and counselors, these five high-achieving students shared their aspirations not only for their future but also their focus on faith, patriotism, teamwork, community and volunteerism.

Students include Dalia Saklaway, Clark Magnet, daughter of Amal Ezzeddine and Moe Saklaway with counselor Susan Howe; Sophia Corbisiero, Flintridge Preparatory High, daughter of Raffaele and Lisa Corbisiero with teacher Lesley Fox; Daniel J. Kim, Crescenta Valley High, son of You and Yeon Kim, attending with Master Sergeant Alvin Johnson, ret, Corps Commander JROTC; Leah Nagel, La Cañada, daughter of Bill and Sarah Nagel, with counselor Amy Hernandez and Margaret “Maggie” Maguire, Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy with parents Dennis and Karen Maguire and counselor Rosemary Johnston.

The Don José Verdugo Chapter, founded in 1953, supports the community through numerous volunteer efforts. NSDAR, founded in 1890, is headquartered in Washington, D.C. and is a non-profit, non-political volunteer women’s service organization which strives to perpetuate the memory and spirit of the men and women who achieved American Independence and preserve historic sites, documents and relics. Membership is open to any woman over age 18 who is lineally related to a man or woman who, with unfailing loyalty to the cause of American Independence, served as a sailor, soldier, civil officer, or as a recognized patriot or rendered material aid.