Good Citizen Awards given by area DAR
- Share via
Members of the Don José Verdugo Chapter, National Society, Daughters of the American Revolution, honored five local students at its annual Good Citizen Award ceremony held recently at the La Cañada Flintridge Country Club.
The Good Citizen Award is presented to students for the outstanding work they do for home, school, community and country. The students are selected by school faculty based on the qualities of dependability, service, leadership and patriotism. This year’s recipients represent five local high schools and were selected for this prestigious award. They are Anna Applebaum; Victoria Ballagh; Marlise Knechtle; Brendan Luckey and Francesca Valencia. DAR Chapter Good Citizen Chairman, Barbara Rogers, presented each student with a pin, certificate and monetary scholarship award.
Anna Applebaum attends La Cañada High School where she is president of the Young Democrats Club. She has participated in varsity softball for two years and is a member of both the French and Math clubs. In 2008 she was an intern at the United Democratic Headquarters, working as a political campaign volunteer. Applebaum also served as youth softball camp counselor for four summers and as a volunteer for environment clean up and protection. She plans to attend a four-year university on the East Coast following graduation. She is the daughter of Nancy and Bill Applebaum.
Victoria Ballagh is a senior at Flintridge Preparatory School where she acts as Key Club secretary and is active in Key Club projects. She is a panelist at the Los Angeles district workshop on youth. Ballagh is a junior varsity soccer coach and cross country manager and is a member of Spanish Honor Society and Club for Christ. She plans to attend college on the East Coast. Her parents are Jim and Susan Ballagh.
Marlise Knechtle attends Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy and is the daughter of Hermann and Marisa Knechtle. She is associate student body president, member of the Christian Action Movement Club, Spanish Club, Student Ambassadors Club and California Scholarship Federation. Knechtle was chosen as Kairos Leader and coordinator for the AIDS Walk Los Angeles. She plans to attend a university in Southern California.
Brendan Luckey, the son of Lance and Christina Luckey, attends Crescenta Valley High School where he is president of National Honor Society and captain of the men’s varsity soccer team. He is also involved in the California Scholarship Federation, French Club, Robotics and Falcon Christian Athletics. Luckey is an Eagle Scout, participates in service for American Youth Soccer Organization, Operation Gratitude and Feed the Body. He has plans to attend a four-year college majoring in architectural engineering.
Francesca Valencia attends Clark Magnet High School and is the daughter of Elena and David Valencia. She participates in Fishing Club, Robotics, Truth Movement Club and Poetry Club. Valencia is a volunteer assistant tennis coach for Glendale Parks and Recreation, is a tutor and performs childcare duties. She is captain and member of the Relay for Life Cancer fundraiser and volunteers for the Taste of Downtown Glendale and Dreaming of Roses. She plans to attend college out-of-state majoring in science.
The Don José Verdugo Chapter, NSDAR, was founded in 1953 and continues to support the community through numerous volunteer efforts. For more information, call (818) 249-5472.