Hilltop student earns third place in essay contest

SPARTA — Hilltop seventh-grader and Sparta resident, Andrew Antunes, has been named the third-place winner for the statewide Daughters of the American Revolution essay contest for 2018-19.
Having been recognized by the local Chinkchewunska Chapter of the D.A.R. with first place honors in his grade, Andrew’s essay went on to earn the third place nod in the state competition.
Andrew’s essay, entitled “The Women’s Suffrage Campaign,” was a well-researched and well-crafted blend of thorough research and historical fiction that tells a story of a family in the midst of the struggle to ratify the 19th Amendment.
He concludes his story with these words: The 19th amendment has been ratified granting American women the right to vote. I am proud that my family was a part of this movement, and I hope that, someday, not just in the U.S.A. but everywhere in the world, women are treated as equals.
Hilltop’s annual participation in the D.A.R. Essay contest is an excellent example of the school’s commitment to writing across the curriculum. The D.A.R. essay is an interdisciplinary approach to combining best writing practices in English, while focusing on thorough historical research and analysis. Upper School history instructor, Nan Katzenbach, and Upper School english instructor, Laura Petrie, cherish these opportunities to work across departments to help students discover the joy in learning. About Andrew Antunes, Laura Petrie comments, “Andrew is a very talented student who balances his academic achievement with musicianship, participation in the school's drama program, and highly competitive soccer leagues. His many accomplishments in the classroom, the stage, and the field make him a very impressive young man, indeed.”
Andrew’s fine achievement will be celebrated at a banquet sponsored by the New Jersey Daughters of the American Revolution on March 29.