'Good Citizens' look to past; Top essay writers commended.

• Author: Allen, Samantha
• Position: Local

Byline: Samantha Allen

WORCESTER -- The top-secret essay question was sealed in an envelope and shipped off to Worcester County high school seniors, not to be opened until the teenagers were ready to sit down and write.

In a competition for one of about a dozen Good Citizen awards handed out by the local Daughters of the American Revolution group, students this year were asked to answer, "What does our past tell us about our future?''

Hilary Wong, 18, of Shrewsbury High School, wrote that history shows us where strength lies and referenced great historical figures such as Rosa Parks.

"We, as Americans, must look to our past for inspiration in our efforts to better society,'' she said.

Elizabeth Tivnan, regent of the DAR chapter, said all the Good Citizen winners deserve praise. Award recipients received $50 and Ms. Wong collected a $100 scholarship, Ms. Tivnan said.

"It's really a lot of work,'' Ms. Tivnan said. "The kids put in a lot of work. This process begins in September.''

Ms. Wong was honored Monday along with 12 other seniors inside the historic 1774 house of Timothy Paine. The Col. Timothy Bigelow Chapter of the DAR organization said Ms. Wong, as the chapter winner out of the many awardees, was selected as one of five finalists for the statewide Massachusetts award as well. The public won't learn of the winner until March 21.

Ms. Wong is an AP Scholar award winner and received Volunteer of the Year recognition at Shrewsbury Public Library, as well as the Shrewsbury High School Community Service award when she was a junior. She's a member of the varsity math team, the speech and debate team and editor-in-chief of the Town Crier, the school newspaper.

"I feel so blessed to be a part of a community that strives to better society,'' she said after the ceremony.

The students stood in a room of the Paine house on Lincoln Street with certificates before the Worcester Area Mission Society minister and president, the Rev. Robert Bachelder, spoke of the ways Worcester has stood...