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FACTORYVILLE — Jayde Waibel recently received recognition for her winning essay in the American History Essay Contest for the Tunkhannock Chapter of the DAR.
Presenting the prize money and certificate was Nancy Walter, Chairman of the American History Committee of the DAR Tunkhannock. Also in attendance was Constance Otto, Regent of Tunkhannock DAR. In addition, Waibel had the opportunity to read her essay to the fourth and fifth graders in the Lackawanna Trail Elementary Center.
What started as a writing assignment with her gifted education teacher, Patricia Carpenter, back in the fall, resulted in Waibel winning first place in the county. The theme for the essay was the celebration of the 250th anniversary of the Stamp Act. The essay was titled “A Colonial Family’s Reaction to the Stamp Act,” and told what role it played in organizing the colonists against the British King and Parliament in fewer than 600 words.
Waibel’s approach was to write from the perspective of a girl her own age and how she would be affected by the Stamp Act. The dialogue which she included showed how she interpreted what and how her parents reacted as colonial patriots.
Judging was based on historical accuracy, adherence to the topic, organization of material, interest, originality, spelling, grammar, punctuation, and neatness. Waibel’s essay was awarded the first place winner for the fifth grade division in the local competition. Her essay was then forwarded to the state American History chair for state competition. State winners in turn are then forwarded to the appropriate national division chair.
In addition to attending the gifted class, Waibel also participates in a full variety of activities both in and outside of school. She plays saxophone in the band and participates in chorus. She is a Junior Lions Football Cheerleader, plays softball, and takes gymnastics, dance, and jazz classes. She plays the piano and has had singing, speaking, and dancing roles in theater presentations.