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Getting to be a Fort Dodge chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizen can be a bit of process for the senior students who are eligible for the awards.

As Chapter Regent Alice Wiles explained during a reception for the winners Saturday afternoon at the Fort Dodge Library, it goes like this after the student is nominated by their school.

"The student compiles a list of what they have done, gets two letters of recommendation, submits their grades and then here's the hard one, they have to write an essay." she said.

She explained that the essay is written off the cuff with no preparation allowed.

"They just sit down and write it," she said.

One of the four winners, Fort Dodge High School senior Sara Rockow only had trouble getting the essay to come in at under 500 words.

"I had to pick my words," she said.

Doing the resume proved easy for her.

"That wasn't that hard," she said, "I had it down for scholarships."

Rockow is involved with 4-H, student council, her church youth group and sports. She also works part time at the Fort Dodge Hy-Vee.

Katelyn Lambert, a senior at Prairie Valley High School in Gowrie was taken by surprise when she was told of her nomination.

"I didn't know I was up for it," she said. "I had no idea."

Lambert is involved with sports, student council, National Honor Society, mock trial, church work and finds time to coach children in youth sports.

Matt Lundquist, a senior at Southeast Webster Grand Community School in Burnside was surprised too. As he looked over the certificate, wallet card and pin that come with the award he listed some of the activities he is involved in - 4-H, church activities, youth group, four sports, band and plenty of studying to maintain his 3.9 GPA.

"There's not a lot of down time to sit around," he said.

While handing out the awards, Wiles explained that they are recognition for good, all-around citizenship and that the reward is something they might find useful in the future.

"This is something you can put on your resume for the rest of your life," she said.

St. Edmond High School senior Douglas Steinkamp was also given one of the Good Citizen awards. He was not able to attend the reception.

Contact Hans Madsen at (515) 573-2141 or hmadsen@messengernews.net