South Putnam's Lois Cheatham earns 2016 DAR Good Citizen award

Friday, December 9, 2016

By ERIC BERNSEE

Editor

For the second straight year, the Putnam County DAR Good Citizen Award is calling South Putnam High School home.

Helping Lois Cheatham (holding certificate) of South Putnam High School celebrate her selection as the 2016 Putnam County DAR Good Citizen winner are (from left) DAR Good Citizen Contest chairman Jinsie Bingham, South Putnam Principal Mike Schimpf, SPHS counselor Kristin Hendrich, Cheatham and her mother and father, Liz and Gary Cheatham. Banner Graphic/ERIC BERNSEE

South Putnam senior Lois Cheatham, the daughter of Liz and Gary Cheatham, South County Road 25 East, Greencastle, was named the 2016 DAR Good Citizen winner by Washburn Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, during a Wednesday afternoon reception at the Putnam County Public Library.

Accompanied to the program at the library by South Putnam Principal Mike Schimpf and SPHS counselor Kristin Hendrich, Cheatham read her essay to the Kiwanis Room audience, addressing what makes America great while focusing on the contributions of leaders, teachers and youth.

Theme of this year's DAR competition was "Our American Heritage and Our Duty to Preserve It."

Joining 2016 Putnam County DAR Good Citizen winner Lois Cheatham (second from right) of South Putnam High School are (from left) Washburn Chapter DAR Good Citizen Contest chairman Jinsie Bingham; Lyndi Parent, North Putnam; Alexandra Weliever, Greencastle; Cheatham; and Ryan Heavener, Cloverdale. Banner Graphic/ERIC BERNSEE

Following in the footsteps of 2015 winner Chloe Carter, Cheatham represented South Putnam as its DAR Good Citizen winner as well as being the county winner. One of four local students competing for the 2016 county honor, Cheatham will now participate in the state DAR competition.

Representing the other Putnam County high schools were:

-- North Putnam senior Lyndi Parent, daughter of Doug and Staci Parent of Russellville.

-- Greencastle senior Alexandra Weliever, daughter of Amy Weliever and Brett Weliever of rural Greencastle.

-- Cloverdale senior Ryan Heavener, son of Tricia and Chris Heavener, rural Poland.

The Putnam County Good Citizen competition is sponsored annually by Washburn Chapter, DAR as part of a national program to recognize and develop young leaders.

The faculty of each of the four county high schools selects one senior to represent his or her school in competing for the county title.

Students who are selected by the faculties at each school must submit grade transcripts, letter of recommendation, outline of future plans and write a 500-word essay.

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