Princeton On Saturday, February 18, 2023, at the Annual George Washington Luncheon, held at Princeton Marriott Forrestal, New Jersey Society, Sons of the American Revolution awarded two of its Youth Program Awards to two outstanding candidates. Along with the officers of the New Jersey Society’s thirteen chapters across the state, in attendance were Bruce and Rita Pickette, President General ​the First Lady of the National Society, Diane Oliver, Regent, New Jersey Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Robert C. Meyer, Vice President General, North Middle Atlantic District, Charles Morgan, President of the New Jersey Society, and Vittoria Flick, Senior State President, Children of the American Revolution.

The 2022 Reverend John Witherspoon American History Teacher of the Year Grant to Robert N. Schulte.  Mr. Schulte is currently teaching 8th grade Social Studies at Reynolds Middle School, Hamilton (Mercer) Township School District, focusing on American History from Colonization through Reconstruction. His work inspires the cause of educating our youth about our founding history. Rob is a reenactor who participates annually in Washington’s Crossing and local battles at Trenton and Princeton. He also works with the American Revolution Institute of the Society of the Cincinnati to present professional development on teaching the American Revolution to teachers nationwide, both online and in person. Mr. Schulte has also lead seminars at the National Council for Social Studies on the importance of teaching the American. With this submission, Mr. Schulte’s work will now be submitted to the National Society, Sons of the American Revolution for the SAR Dr. Tom and Betty Lawrence History Teacher of the Year Award.

The New Jersey Society’s state recipient of the SAR’s George S. and Stella M. Knight Essay Contest is Evan Peneiras, a senior at the Monmouth County Academy of Allied Health and Science for his essay, Health Care in the American Revolution.  Mr. Peneiras is a member of the National Honor Society and President of the Monmouth Chapter of the Children of the American Revolution. He organized a project to raise money for homeless veterans and created masks for VA hospitals. He co-created a charity band, Marvelous Melodies, that performs at assisted living and extended care facilities to promote social interaction for the elderly. As Vice-President of his school’s science club, he creates and organizes projects to inspire others about science, such as creating interactive physics demonstrations for Cub Scouts. He is his schools’ Key Club president ​who helps create fundraisers to better his local community and raise money for organizations such as Alex’s Lemonade Stand and CHOP. Mr. Penerias’s essay will now be submitted to the National Society, Sons of the American Revolution, to compete for a national cash prize.

About the SAR: National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution (NSSAR or SAR) was founded in 1889 and is headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky. SAR is a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to promoting patriotism, preserving American history, and promoting education ​for future generations. SAR members volunteer untold hours of service each year in their local communities. SAR is very active in assisting veterans. We proudly assist teachers with living history interpreters, lesson planning materials, and reenactment events for school-aged youth to attend. As one of the largest male societies in the country, SAR boasts tens of thousands of active members in over 550 chapters across the United States and internationally. Any male 18 years or older-regardless who can prove blood lineal descent from a patriot of the American Revolution, is eligible for membership. The SAR does not restrict membership on the basis of race, age, color, religion, national origin, nation of citizenship​,​ or residency. More information can be found at SAR.org

About the NJSSAR: ​Formed ​On March 7, 1889​,​ in Newark, NJ​,​ by William Osborn McDowell. The Elizabethtown Chapter was the first organized chapter for the national society.  McDowell subsequently worked with six women to organize the National Society, Daughters of the American Revolution on July 29, 1890. The New Jersey Society now has thirteen chapters and over 750 members. More information can be found at NJSSAR.org