The Fort Atkinson-Eli Pierce Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) recently recognized six area high school seniors who exemplify the qualities of good citizenship, according to information released by the group.
The organization held its annual Good Citizen Reception for the students and their guests on Thursday, March 2, at the Dwight Foster Public Library in Fort Atkinson, the release stated.
Honorees included Mariah Luebke, Fort Atkinson High School; Matthew Buchholz, Jefferson High School; Madalyn Buonincontro, Cambridge High School; Natalie Gordhamer, Palmyra-Eagle High School; Kindyl Kilar, Whitewater High School; and Jeremiah Legel, Lake Mills High School.
During the program, each student introduced him/herself and his/her guests and was presented a certificate of recognition.
According to the release, Kilar is the chapter’s Good Citizen winner, and her essay on citizenship advances to compete at the state level. As she was in Boston and unable to attend the luncheon, DAR Chaplain Valerie Cole read Kilar’s essay, titled “Positive Actions Lead to Positive Change: How Will the Essential Actions of a Good Citizen — Dependability, Service, Leadership and Patriotism — Meet the Challenges that America Faces in this Decade?”
“After reading Kindyl’s letters of recommendation, her personal story and her essay, I can’t help but be amazed at the dynamic and caring individual she is. From her leadership roles in school and church, she embodies all the qualities of a good citizen,” DAR chapter Regent Nancy Olson was quoted as saying in the release.
Kilar received a certificate and scholarship in a presentation at her school on Monday, March 6.
Olson also welcomed the honorees and their guests. Registrar Jessica Punzel led the Pledge of Allegiance and Cole offered the blessing. Treasurer Mary Narkis and Secretary Vicki Schicker presented the awards, the release stated.
Information about each of the six students recognized by DAR, as presented by the organization, follows.
Mariah Luebke
Mariah Luebke is the daughter of Kim and Justin Luebke. Throughout her years at Fort Atkinson High School, she has maintained an A average, taking advanced-placement courses such as AP computer science, AP Psychology, AP Statistics and AP Environmental Science. She has been treasurer of FFA and is its current president, and in the fall has served as football team manager. Luebke also is a member of National Honor Society, treasurer of the Spanish National Honor Society and a student aid.
Outside of school, she is the mascot, Pork Chop Jones,” for Jones Dairy Farm; works in housekeeping at Holiday Inn Express; and in the past worked at Goodwill of South-Central Wisconsin and the Common House.
Following graduation, she plans to study agribusiness management at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville with the goal of owning her own business selling crops to her community.
Kindyl Kilar
Kindyl Kilar is the daughter of Mary and Mike Kilar. Throughout her years at Whitewater High School, she has maintained an all-A average while taking honors and AP courses. Her high school activities include Spanish Honor Society, Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD), Student Council, HOPE squad, National Honor Society, yearbook staff, Kindness Club and Rock Valley Conference leadership conferences. She plays the flute and violin and sings in the church choir.
Outside of school, Kilar volunteers at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church Vacation Bible School and helps with youth basketball. A Herb Kohl Excellence Scholarship nominee, she has been elected to Homecoming Court, and was named All-State Volleyball for two years, All-Conference Basketball for two years, an All-Conference Track and All-State Finisher, Most Valuable Player in volleyball and Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year. She was captain of the volleyball team, an MVP in track and a Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership Foundation nominee.
Upon graduation, Kilar will attend Florida International University in Miami, where she plans to play collegiate volleyball. She hopes to enter the medical field.
Matthew Buchholz
Matthew Buchholz is the son of Dean and Kimberly Buchholz of Jefferson. Throughout his last three years at Jefferson High School, he has earned an A in all his courses, which include AP Calculus, AP European History, AP Physics and AP Human Geography. He also is very involved in music, playing in the Concert and Symphonic bands, Jazz Ensemble and Steel Drum Band, and singing in the Vocal Jazz Ensemble.
He has played football and tennis, is in the Music Honors Society and was on Student Council for two years. In addition, he was part of the Eagle Theater Council, Spanish Honor Society and National Honor Society.
As a member of the Theater and Drama Club, Buchholz has performed in one-act plays that went to state, and he held the leading role in “Little Shop of Horrors.”
Outside of school, Buchholz has volunteered at the Boys and Girls in Christ (BASIC) Thanksgiving Dinner each year. During the summer, he works on the grounds crew for the School District of Jefferson. A member of his church’s youth group, Chapel Students, he volunteers to work tech during church services; plays the piano, guitar and ukulele; and takes private vocal lessons.
Matthew has four colleges he is considering to attend after graduation — Ripon College, the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, University of Northern Iowa and Viterbo University — with the plan of becoming a vocal music teacher.
Natalie Gordhamer
Natalie Gordhamer, is the daughter of Deb and Gary Gordhamer. During the past three years at Palmyra-Eagle High School, she has achieved high academic success, taking advanced courses including AP Literature and Composition, AP Calculus, AP Psychology and AP U.S. History. She also has been involved in band.
Outside of the classroom, Gordhamer has been in National Honor Society, serving as historian. Last summer, she was a delegate to Badger Girls State.
Gordhamer has been a member of Girl Scouts for 12 years, volunteering at a day camp teaching outdoor skills. She earned her Junior Aide badge and Silver Award, the latter by building three little free libraries.
After graduation, she plans to attend Minnesota State University in Mankato, with the goal of becoming a librarian.
Madalyn Buonincontro
During the past three years at Cambridge High School, Madalyn Buonincontro has maintained an A average while taking four years of Spanish, English, social studies and math. She took AP English Literature and AP Government and Politics, as well as many music courses including varsity, show and concert choirs.
Her high school activities include volleyball; National Honor Society, of which she is president; school musicals and the peer mentoring program. She is the Class of 2023 secretary.
Outside of school, she is involved in the St. Paul’s Lutheran Church Daycare and serves as a Sunday School teacher. She volunteers at an elementary school on Wednesday mornings and has volunteered at Mount Carmel family camp for the past two summers.
After high school, Buonincontro plans to attend Wheaton College in Wheaton, Ill., to major in elementary education.
Jeremiah Legel
While at Lake Mills High School, Jeremiah Legel, son of Craig and Kari Legel, has been involved in cross-country, basketball, track, Interact Club, Link Crew and National Honor Society, of which he serves as president. He has earned his academic letter and academic medallion.
A singer and songwriter, Legel is an active volunteer at his church and at school, and is employed at Timber Creek Pizza Co. He also is involved in the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
Next fall, Legel will be attending Cedarville University in Cedarville, Ohio. His career path is as yet undecided.
Legal was presented the Good Citizen award at his school, as he was unable to attend the March 2 luncheon.
About the Good Citizen award
According to the release, the Good Citizen award was created in 1934, and recognizes and rewards individuals who possess the qualities of dependability, service, leadership, and patriotism in their homes, schools, and communities. The students are selected by their teachers and peers because they demonstrate these qualities to an outstanding degree.
Once a student is chosen as the DAR Good Citizen, he or she is invited to participate in the scholarship portion of the program. This consists of a personal statement and an essay; participation is optional.
The Fort Atkinson-Eli Pierce Chapter of DAR began its Good Citizens program in the late 1930s with one school … Fort Atkinson. Since then, it has recognized 86-plus students.
About DAR
According to the release, the Fort Atkinson Chapter of DAR was organized in 1899, and was “one of the earliest and largest chapters in Wisconsin for many years.”
The release stated: “The Eli Pierce Chapter, founded in Whitewater in 1941, was very active but never as large. The two chapters merged in 1992, and today, members reside in Watertown, Lake Mills, Jefferson, Fort Atkinson, Whitewater, Milton, Janesville and surrounding communities, as well as in several other states.”
Cambridge High School senior Madalyn Buonincontro, at center, receives a Good Citizen certificate presented by DAR Secretary Vicki Schicker, at left, and DAR Treasurer Mary Narkis.
Fort Atkinson High School senior Mariah Luebke, at center, receives a Good Citizen certificate presented by DAR Treasurer Mary Narkis, at left, and DAR Secretary Vicki Schicker.
Jefferson High School senior Matthew Buchholz, at center, receives a Good Citizen certificate presented by DAR Secretary Vicki Schicker, at left, and DAR Treasurer Mary Narkis.
Palmyra-Eagle High School senior Natalie Gordhamer, at center, receives a Good Citizen certificate presented by DAR Secretary Vicki Schicker, at left, and DAR Treasurer Mary Narkis.
Whitewater High School senior Kindyl Kilar, at center, receives a certificate presented by DAR Regent Nancy Olson, at left, and DAR Chaplain Valerie Cole. Kilar was unable to attend the March 2 Good Citizen Reception. She was presented with her certificate at her school.
Lake Mills High School senior Jeremiah Legel, at left, receives a certificate presented by DAR member Janet Stehling. Legel was unable to attend the March 2 Good Citizen Reception. He was presented with his certificate at his school.
DAR Treasurer Mary Narkis, from left, followed by students named by the group as Good Citizens and who were in attendance at a recent reception, Natalie Gordhamer, Palmyra-Eagle High School; Madalyn Buonincontro, Cambridge High School; Mariah Luebke, Fort Atkinson High School, and Matthew Buchholz, Jefferson High School, along with DAR Secretary Vicki Schicker gather during the reception. Not pictured, but also selected by DAR for the honor, were Kindyl Kilar, Whitewater High School, and Jeremiah Legel, Lake Mills High School. Both were unable to attend the reception.
Contributed photos.
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