Manchester High School senior Laura Blair receives DAR Good Citizen Award

2024–2025 DAR Good Citizen Award winner Laura Blair. Photo courtesy of Sarah Caswell Angell Chapter, National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution.

submitted by Denise Frost, Historian, Sarah Caswell Angell Chapter, National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution

Manchester High School senior Laura Blair has been given the 2024–2025 DAR Good Citizen Award by the Sarah Angell Caswell Chapter of the National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR). Selected by her school’s faculty, Laura is believed to be Manchester’s first nominee for this prestigious honor.

The DAR Good Citizen Award recognizes high school seniors who exemplify dependability, service, leadership, and patriotism. Laura, the daughter of Thomas and Carina Blair, stands out not only for her academic excellence but also her dedication to community and service.

A leader both in and out of the classroom, Laura serves as a Link crew member and captain, helping to guide younger students. She’s also a competitive dancer with over 15 years of experience and national recognition. This fall, she will attend Grand Valley State University to study pre-physical therapy, aiming to become a doctor of physical therapy.

Laura’s science teacher, Mr. Gerbe, describes her as “compassionate, dependable, patriotic, and hardworking,” noting she has “the personality and skill set that will make anyone proud to know her.”

The DAR Good Citizen program is a long-standing national initiative with students from area schools, including Dexter, Saline, Pioneer, and Whitmore Lake, also receiving awards this year. Awardees were invited to participate in a scholarship essay contest focused on the role of service in strengthening communities and American identity.

The NSDAR offers scholarships in many areas of study for both undergraduate and graduate studies. For more information on the scholarship opportunities, visit https://dar.academicworks.com. For more information about the local DAR and its mission, visit sca-dar.org.

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by Sara Swanson

Sara Swanson is an editor, writer and founder of the Manchester Mirror.