Submitted by Bethney Seifert, Nevada State Regent NSDAR 2026-2028 “Fan the flames of gratitude through service” Email: stateregent@nssdar.org Information borrowed from Oregon State DAR.
Dear Nevada Daughters:
Recognizing outstanding community work is not just your chapter regent’s job! Everyone in the chapter should be paying attention in their communities, looking for outstanding volunteers, students, nonprofit organizations, etc.
The awards listed below are some of the easiest to present. All you need to do is let your chapter know that you know of someone who meets the criteria for the awards below. The certificates/medals are available, for no charge, at state meetings. Instead of “paying” with money, you pay by turning in the name of the award recipient and the organization where they volunteer, or school they attend. Simple.
Please give the State Regent advance warning if you will be needing a significant number of certificates so they can be ordered. Email: stateregent@nssdar.org
Start looking for awardees now so you can have the information you need to pick up the certificates and/or medals at the state conference in April.
AWARDS THAT DON’T REQUIRE STATE OR NATIONAL APPROVAL
America 250! Commendation The DAR America 250! Commendation medal and certificate set is for recognition of individuals (non-DAR members) and groups that have demonstrated extraordinary efforts to honor the men and women who achieved American Independence and educate others about their service and sacrifice. Examples of meritorious service may include erecting, rediscovering, restoring, and/or rededicating Revolutionary War-related monuments, plaques, gravesites and other memorials in communities, towns, or cities through publicly celebrated projects or events; publishing books or articles about Revolutionary War Patriots or events; and organizing community projects or events to raise awareness of those who supported the cause of liberty during the American Revolutionary War. This award requires no formal approval. (Available free of charge from the State Regent’s Project at state meetings.)
Has an organization in your community assisted you with an America 250 event? Has a local organization held a community America 250 event? Did your library have a display? Etc...
Flag Certificate (The Flag of the United States Committee) Recognize individuals or local businesses for their proper use, correct display, and patriotic presentation of the Flag of the United States of America. (Certificates available free of charge from the State Regent’s Project at state meetings.).
Do local businesses display their flag daily? Does someone in your neighborhood properly display their flag daily?
Literacy Champion Award (Literacy Promotion Committee) This chapter certificate recognizes DAR and non-DAR individuals who contribute within the community in an outstanding manner through service or by organizing or participating in community activities that promote literacy. The achievements must have taken place within the past five years. This non-competitive recognition has no application deadline and does not require any formal application approval. Information on the Literacy Champion Award certificate can be found on the Literacy Promotion Committee webpage. The Literacy Champion certificate can be filled in and printed by the chapter directly from the Literacy Promotion Committee website.
Does a local business, church, youth organization have a Little Free Library? Does your doctor’s office, laundromat, or other business have a bookshelf for kids? Is there a local organization that distributes books for adults or kids in need? Recognize your local librarians!
DAR Youth Leadership Medal (National Defense Committee) This award is presented to girls or boys in grades five through eleven (elementary, junior and senior high schools; public, private, or parochial schools), who fulfill the qualities of honor, service, courage, leadership and patriotism. One medal per grade per school may be given in accredited and non-accredited schools each school year. The medal may also be awarded to youth service and patriotic organizations whose membership fulfills these qualities (such as scouts, police cadets and other community service organizations). Each recipient should receive the DAR Youth Leadership Medal and certificate from the awarding chapter based on a local chapter write-up and chapter regent approval. Information is available on the National Defense Committee website. (Available free of charge from the State Regent’s Project at state meetings.)
Look for articles in your local paper, or online, about local kids doing great things in the community, at church, in scout troops, 4H, etc. Do you have friends or neighbors with kids/grandkids doing great things?
Excellence in American History DAR Award (American History Committee) An outstanding student of American history can be recognized (separate from participation in one of the two essay contests) through the presentation of a certificate and a bronze medal. A chapter determines eligibility and may present this award to a student in any grade. Award certificates and medals can be purchased from the DAR Store online. (Available free of charge from the State Regent’s Project at state meetings.)
Are there kids volunteering at local museums? Or active in a history club? Or scouts doing history-related projects?
Women in American History Award (American History Committee) Chapters are encouraged to select a notable woman from their state or community to honor for this recognition by taking into consideration women who have made a contribution or a difference in their communities. She could be a historical figure or currently alive and worthy of recognition. Look for women who are, or have been, intellectual, educational, social, religious, political, scientific, or cultural innovators. The woman or women being honored may be DAR members, prospective DAR members, or non-members. You may select more than one woman to honor. After you award the certificate and medal be sure to register the recipient’s name on the national website, American History Committee.
Excellence in Historic Preservation Certificate (Historic Preservation Committee) In an effort to recognize outstanding individuals and organizations that promote historic preservation, the committee created the NSDAR Excellence in Historic Preservation Certificate. The recognition honors individuals or groups that have saved and/or preserved their local history, including restoration of buildings, significant objects, monuments, cemeteries, and other important artifacts. This certificate applauds contributions that may not necessarily be based upon exclusively volunteer efforts. For example, it might be presented to a local citizen who purchases and saves a historic home or property for their personal use. Or it may be presented to a group or business that rescues an historic structure in order to establish it as its headquarters. Simply put, this certificate of recognition is designed to thank those who cherish history and accept the responsibility to preserve it. It does not require any formal application/approval. Once the applicant has been approved by the chapter or state society wishing to present the certificate.