MENDOTA - Mendota High School has announced the winners of the 2019-20 DAR and SAR Good Citizens program, sponsored by the Illini Chapter of NSDAR. Hannah Ambler was chosen to receive the DAR award and Noah DeLong received the SAR.

These awards are open to all seniors. The recipients are nominated by fellow senior classmates and the faculty at MHS. Criteria for the DAR and SAR awards include dependability, cooperation, leadership and patriotism.

Hannah Ambler is the daughter of Carl and Susan Ambler. While in high school, she has participated in tennis, basketball, cheerleading, Math Team, Academic Challenge, Interact Club, Student Council, and National Honor Society. She has a 4.0 cumulative GPA and has been selected as an Illinois State Scholar. She has been in band all four years and currently serves as band president. During the past marching band season, she was one of two drum majors. She was chosen as a homecoming attendant in both her sophomore and senior years. She also attended ALA Illini Girl’s State and Illinois Leadership Seminar.

Outside of school, Ambler has been a lifeguard at the Mendota Swimming Pool for the past two summers. In her free time, she loves to be with friends, make and eat new types of food, research conspiracy theories, and root for the St. Louis Cardinals.

Community Service

As a member of the National Honor Society, Ambler tutors students at Lincoln School. With her church’s youth group and the Interact Club, she has been able to help out at homeless shelters, highway ditch clean-ups, corn sales, and the Kids Against Hunger food packing event. She was also able to go on a week-long mission trip to St. Louis this past summer. While all of these events allowed her to give back to the community or to help people in desperate need, she felt that she was able to really make a difference while on the mission trip.

In St. Louis, Ambler helped out at a shelter for abused women and children, worked at a food pantry and at many different daycare centers. Working in these places allowed her to see people from all walks of life and to really put things into perspective.

Future Plans

Ambler plans to attend a four-year university right after high school to study psychology, possibly with a focus on industrial and organizational psychology. As yet, she is unsure of where this career path will take her.

In her essay on the four qualities of a DAR Good Citizen (dependability, service, leadership, and patriotism), Ambler said these are all very important characteristics to possess. “Dependability is important not only in careers but also in personal friendships. People are able to rely on and trust you when in need. Service is important to me because it always reminds me that I need to be grateful for everything that I have been blessed with. Also, I can give back to my community and help others who really need it. Positive leadership is an important quality for everyone to have. I believe that people have a much bigger impact on others than we may think, and something as simple as a few kind words can go a long way. To me, patriotism is upholding American ideals and fighting for what is right, when it’s necessary. It is always important to stand up for the rights of others, and the ideals that make America, America. I try to implement all of these characteristics into my daily life by being be the kindest person possible, looking out for others, and setting a good example for everyone around me.”

SAR

Noah DeLong is the son of Michael and Janet DeLong. During high school, he has participated in cross country, golf, boy’s basketball, boy’s tennis, choir (president), band, National Honor Society, spring play and musical, fall play tech crew, Jazz Band, Rhythm Express Combo (Swing Choir), Madrigals (king) and Academic Challenge. He was chosen as Homecoming king, was on honor roll five semesters, attended ILMEA District Festival and ILMEA All-State, is an Illinois State Scholar, a LaSalle County Board Schools Student Excellence Award recipient, and BNC All-Conference Scholar Athlete.

DeLong enjoys learning new things and especially loves learning about history, singing and making music, and playing sports.

Outside of school, he worked as a camp counselor at Menno Haven in Tiskilwa, and as a hobby, he is the drummer in a band that performs at local concerts.

Community Service

DeLong says his efforts to serve his community have been effective and have made a difference by making him a better person and making his community a better place.

Every year at school, he has participated in the corn sales that have helped the Lions Club in Mendota and the music programs at school financially, which has allowed them to function well in the community. He also participated in a fundraiser last year that helped raise money for the local homeless shelter and this year, he is participating in a dodgeball tournament at school to raise money and collect food for the local food pantry. “This helps to make the community better by providing funds for associations that make a difference in people’s lives who don’t have much. These fundraisers have also helped me to become a better person by making me think of others before myself.”

At church, DeLong plays the drums in the Praise Team, which helps his church community by setting the mood for the service and worship. He believes this has made him a better person by helping him to realize he should think of others before himself. “Without these acts of service that I do in the community, I wouldn’t be the person I am today.”

Future Plans

Looking to the future, DeLong plans to go to a four-year university and major in education to become a history teacher. He hopes to teach middle school and if possible, also coach a sport at the school. “I want to be a teacher because I like working with kids and I love history, so teaching kids about a subject that I love would be something that I would enjoy everyday. As a teacher, I want to be good at teaching, but also a good resource for kids to come to if they are struggling with something, whether it’s schoolwork or a personal issue. I want to be an encouraging teacher, one that uplifts kids but also gives them a desire to learn and grow. As a person, I want to be a good citizen that everyone enjoys being around. I want to be a positive influence that causes everyone around them to live wisely. I also want to be a good co-worker and someone that everyone at my workplace looks up to. I also aspire to be someone that my family looks up to and relies on when they are in need of something.”

In his essay on the four qualities of SAR (dependability, service, leadership, and patriotism), DeLong said these are important because they are the foundation of being a good citizen and person. “As a good citizen, you are called to be someone that people can depend on when they need something done or need help. A good citizen is called to serve the community in any way they can to make it a better place. As a good citizen, you are also called to be a positive influence who models the proper behavior people should live by. You should lead through the way you interact with other people and respond to intense situations.”

DeLong believes a good citizen also needs to be someone that loves the United States and what it stands for, someone who honors the flag and U.S. veterans every time they are around. “One way that I try to exhibit these qualities is by honoring and thanking veterans for their service every time I see them. I also take saying the Pledge of Allegiance every day very seriously.”

He also exhibits those qualities by being a leader and showing fellow students how to properly behave during class, by taking part in school fundraisers that help the community and by helping other students with a project or homework. “I also make sure I am available to help anyone that needs help, so students know they can depend on me, and I turn in all my homework and forms on time at school, so teachers can depend on me, too.”