The Shrewsbury Towne-Monmouth Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) has announced the winners of its 2016 essay contest dubbed A Colonial Family’s Reaction to the Stamp Act.

DAR conducts an essay contest each year involving local public, private, parochial school students in fifth through eighth grade as well as those in registered home study programs. This year, 14 schools participated with 528 essay entries.

The top winners were awarded on April 11 at a ceremony at Shrewsbury Borough Hall.

The winners: fifth grade category, first place, Josh Scheck, Wemrock Brooke School/Manalapan-Englishtown School District; sixth grade category, first place, Andrew Scanlon, St. Leo the Great School, Lincroft section of Middletown; seventh grade category, first place, Christopher Montefusco, St. Leo the Great; eighth grade category, first place, Madeleine Hicks, St. Leo the Great.

The winners received monetary awards in addition to certificates. All participants received a certificate of participation from the local DAR chapter.

The DAR, founded in 1890 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., is a non-profit, non-political volunteer women’s service organization dedicated to promoting patriotism, preserving American history, and securing America’s future through better education for children.

The Shrewsbury Towne-Monmouth Chapter has been participating in this national essay contest of over 25 years, with the yearly topic coming from DAR headquarters in Washington, DC.

Anyone interested in receiving more information about the Shrewsbury Towne-Monmouth Chapter NSDAR, should contact:  Elaine   ([email protected])

— Edited press release from DAR, Shrewsbury