CHEROKEE – During a regularly scheduled USD 247 BOE meeting on June 9, 2025, Mary Colvin, a teacher at Southeast Middle School in Cherokee, KS, was awarded a $3,800 grant from the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR); the only one awarded in the State of Kansas. DAR is a service organization of women whose ancestors contributed to the American cause in our country’s struggle for independence. Their objectives of historic preservation, education, and patriotism guide the programs, activities, and focus of their work. The local DAR chapter is the Oceanus Hopkins Chapter, NSDAR.  That area covers much of Crawford, Cherokee, and Labette counties. Chapter Regent, Mary Gilpin, presented Mrs. Colvin with the grant and the DAR Community Classroom pin.

“The grant will be used to engage middle school students in preserving local history, honoring veterans, and learning through service. Students will visit a local cemetery, select a veteran’s gravesite, and research their life and service using archival resources. They will also learn proper headstone cleaning techniques and contribute to restoring the cemetery using safe materials. The project culminates in a public walking tour where students share monologues based on their research at the veterans’ gravesites with support from local DAR and Sons of the American Revolution (SAR). This hands-on experience fosters historical understanding, civic engagement, and skills in research and public speaking while honoring veterans’ legacies.” – Mary Colvin

The students’ projects will begin in mid-August with planning and securing resources. In late August, the students will be introduced to the project and assigned veterans to research. A cemetery preservation workshop will be held in early September and a walking tour will take place in mid-September, where students will clean headstones and observe their veterans’ graves. Students will finalize their presentations by late September, leading to a community showcase event in early October. The project will conclude with student reflections and feedback in late October.

To learn more about DAR, you can visit: http://www.kansasdar.org/oceanushopkins/oceanushopkins@kansasdar.org or https://www.dar.org/national-society