Way to Go! Sachem student wins national essay contest
Daniela Mare, a junior at Sachem High School North in Lake Ronkonkoma, took the national title and was awarded a $30,000 scholarship in the audio essay contest called “Voice of Democracy." Credit: Jamie Mare
A Sachem student has taken the national title in a competition that asked participants to express themselves in a democratic- and patriotic-themed recorded essay.
Daniela Mare, a junior at Sachem High School North in Lake Ronkonkoma, won first place and was awarded a $30,000 scholarship in the audio essay contest, called “Voice of Democracy,” which this year had a theme of "America: Where do we go from here?" It attracted about 25,000 participants from across the country and was organized by the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
To reach the national level, Mare won the top spots at the local, regional and state levels. She was sponsored by VFW Post 9486 and its auxiliary in Centereach.
"America is like a paint palette with an endless array of chromatic possibilities — the palette in the hands of the people and the brush in that of the government — we in synchronicity can paint a beautiful picture," Mare, 17, wrote in her winning essay. "Each unique color represents the individuality of every U.S. citizen and every color has an equal opportunity to change the painting in its own distinct way."
Mare is also secretary of her school's junior class and Leo's (Leadership, Experience, Opportunity) Club as well as a member of the Student Government, Recycling Council, girls varsity soccer team and National, English, Foreign Language, History and Science honor societies.
— MICHAEL R. EBERT
Michael R. Ebert is an education researcher and has worked for Newsday in various capacities since 2003. He was part of an 11-person team named as 2008 Pulitzer Prize finalists for investigative coverage of the LIRR's platform safety issues.
