Ridgefield student wins first place essay and second place oration state contests

Elizabeth Swift, a Ridgefield High School junior, has been selected as a statewide winner of two prestigious essay/oration contests sponsored by the Washington State Society of The Sons of The American Revolution (SAR).

Swift won first place in the George S. & Stella Knight Essay Contest for the second consecutive year. Her essay detailed the many bold contributions by Caty Greene, wife of Continental Army Major Nathanael Greene. The essay illustrated the increasing roles of leadership women played during and after the American Revolution. Elizabeth placed second in Washington state for the Joseph S. Rumbaugh Historic Oration Contest where she delivered a six-minute presentation on the plight of enslaved people during the American Revolution. She previously won first place at the local level through the Ft. Vancouver SAR Chapter.

Both contests challenge high school students in grades 9-12 to complete research and prepare an essay or oration on a topic or person related to The American Revolution. Swift received $1,000 for first place in the essay contest and $500 for runner up in the oration contest. She is the daughter of Darren and Evangeline Swift of Ridgefield.

SAR is the largest male lineage organization in the United States and consists of men who can provide lineal bloodline descent from people who served during the Revolutionary War, or who contributed to establishing the independence of the United States. The society is dedicated to assisting its members, schools, teachers, veterans and the general public in their efforts to sustain and preserve our history and constitutional principles.

In addition to the essay and oration contests for high school students, SAR sponsors an essay contest for youth who are Eagle Scouts or are enrolled in a high school having a JROTC unit. Likewise, the society introduced a new Youth Video Contest this year, and has a Poster Design Contest for elementary students and a Brochure Design contest for middle school students.