CASSOPOLIS — Whether it is through giving it their all on the field, hitting the high note in the choir room or devoting hours of time to a cause that makes the community a better place, there are many ways for area students to demonstrate a commitment to being the best citizens they can be.

The six high school seniors sharing a table at the Cass District Library Monday served as shining examples of this fact.

Members of Cass County’s Capt. Samuel Felt Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution recognized the area students during its annual Good Citizens Tea that afternoon. Among those honored Monday were Lauren Smith, Dowagiac Union High School; Mary Wright, Cassopolis High School; Michaela Ritschard, Edwardsburg High School; and Samuel Burge, Brandywine High School.

The students were selected as the latest batch of DAR Good Citizens by their teachers and their peers, said Paula Johnson, past regent of the Capt. Samuel Felt chapter, who conducted Monday’s ceremony.

Last fall, the faculty at each of the schools in the local DAR’s district were asked to select a handful of seniors who exemplified the four traits of a DAR good citizen: dependability, service, leadership and patriotism. From those lists of students, other seniors were asked to vote for which of their classmates they felt deserved the distinction.

After their selection, each Good Citizen was given two hours to complete an essay about a subjected selected by the DAR. The essays will be judged by a panel of three judges, selected by the chapter president, who will decide next week which of the six students will go on to represent the district in the upcoming state Good Citizen competition.

Winners at the state level will advance to nationals, and have the chance to win college scholarship money, Johnson said.

“Regardless of whose essay is selected, all these young people will make the world a better place,” Johnson said during her remarks Monday. “They are all winners.”

Among those in attendance Monday were the parents of the nominated students, along with several of their teachers, administrators and guidance counselors.

The students had the opportunity to share a little about themselves during the event as well, before receiving their certificates and pins from Johnson.

Lauren Smith

Smith is a member of several organizations at her school, including the National Honor Society, where she is vice president, and the Rotary Interact Club, where she is president. As a member of these clubs, she has had the opportunity to volunteer for several local causes, including food drives, Smith said.

She has also been a member of choir since seventh grade, and has been participating in theater since sixth grade.

“I’m not really an athletic person, so I found my niche in those two things,” Smith said.

Outside of school, she has participated in 4-H, showing pigs and sheep at the Cass County Fair since she was 5 or 6 years old, she said.

After graduation, she plans to attend Southwestern Michigan College, where she is currently dual enrolled. After that, she plans on attending either Cornerstone University in Grand Rapids or Bethel College in Mishawaka, where she plans on majoring in special education and minoring in vocal performance.

Mary Wright

Wright is the president of her school’s student senate and a member of the National Honor Society. She was also a member of the varsity cheerleading squad and was also involved with the Cassopolis robotics team, she said.

As part of those organizations, Wright has helped organize events such as homecoming, school dances, fundraisers and blood drives, she said.

Outside of school, Wright is a member of a competition dance team and 4-H. She also volunteers with her church and at the Niles Haunted House.

After graduating high school, she plans to attend Western Michigan University, where she will study elementary education, she said.

“I would love to come back to Cassopolis Public Schools to be an elementary teacher,” she said.

Michaela Ritschard

Ritschard is a varsity athlete in basketball and softball. In the past two years, her teams have advanced to districts, and made it to regionals last year, she said.

She is also a member of the National Honor Society at her school.

In the fall, Ritschard plans to attend either Butler University or Hope College, she said.

“I don’t know what I am going to major in, but I know I want to get into the medical field,” Ritschard said.

Samuel Burge

Burge is also a prominent student athlete in three sports: football, wrestling and golfing. He is a three-time captain in each of these sports, he said.

In spite of his success on the field, Burge said he does not consider himself the most athletic person one will ever meet.

“I am not the strongest, fastest or even smartest person in the room or field, but I am one of the hardest working,” Burge said.

He is also a member of 4-H and the Boy Scouts, where he was recently promoted to Eagle Scout, he said.

After high school, Burge plans to attend Trine University, where he will study electrical engineering and also wrestle, he said. He said he is unsure of what he wants to accomplish after receiving his master’s degree, other than he wants to “find a nice wife and start a family.”

Also recognized Monday was Tanner Bohan, of Marcellus High School, and Alexander Wheeler, of Decatur High School.