Students in St. Leo the Great School, Lincroft, recently finished in the top three tiers for sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade entries in the 2018-19 Daughters of the American Revolution Essay Contest.

Participants wrote a 300- to 1000-word entry on the contest theme, “The Women’s Suffrage Campaign,” imagining that they were living in 1919 while women’s suffrage campaigns were impacting American society and politics. Entries were required to discuss the pros and cons of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, passed by Congress on June 4, 1919, and ratified Aug. 18, 1920.

The essay contest was established by DAR to encourage young people to think creatively about the nation’s history. Many Americans in 1919 viewed the 19th Amendment as a radical change.

Under the direction of teacher Virginia Shute, St. Leo School sixth-graders Daniel Russo of Middletown, Emily DeLuca of Colts Neck, Keira Murphy of Farmingdale and Steven Yurcisin of Tinton Falls took first, second and tied for third place respectively.

Seventh-graders also placed well. Patrick Durkin received second place honors; Matthew Pascucci received honorable mention; and Ella Dougherty, tied for third place. Sophia Almeida took honorable mention for eighth grade.

“We are extremely proud of all our students,” said Joann Mullins, the school’s eighth-grade social studies teacher. “The DAR essay contest not only brings out the best in our students, but also assists in our classroom discussions. It is great to see so many students throughout Monmouth County actively engaged  in the history of our nation.”

The DAR essay contest is open to students in public, private and parochial schools, and registered home-study programs.