The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution annually present their Good Citizen Award to one senior at Walpole High School. This award was created in 1934 with the purpose of supporting and rewarding good citizenship, specifically high school seniors. To be nominated for this award one must embody traits of patriotism, service, leadership and dependability. The Aaron Guild Chapter of DAR, which runs out of Norwood, selects various students for this award, including WHS.
On Nov. 8, the DAR association awarded Walpole High School senior Dylan Bent with the DAR Good Citizen Award. The process of being selected for this award starts with teachers at WHS selecting finalists for the award, in which they look for students who embody the traits DAR highlights. Then, the senior student body votes on who they believe most represents the traits of a good citizen.
“I was really happy that other people thought I embodied the traits of a good citizen, and that’s something I’m really proud of”, Bent said.
At the ceremony, Bent received a certificate of the award, an American Flag and a pin with 13 stars on it to represent the original 13 colonies of the United States. However, Bent will be given the official award at the WHS graduation and additionally receive money from the organization.
Bent participates in many extracurriculars, including student council, where he is on the executive board as a Publicity Coordinator. He is the current Vice President of Best Buddies, a club which he has been a part of since freshman year. Bent also frequently volunteers at the New Life Furniture Bank and participates in a leadership program for students. He is also captain of the Walpole Cross Country team, which he has been a part of all four years of high school.
Bent also ran a shoe drive the past two years for the organization Soles4Souls and plans on running it again this year. The Soles4Souls is a non-profit that sends shoes to people in need all over the world. The organization’s overall goal is to provide relief to the less fortunate through receiving donations of used shoes. Bent ran his shoe drive during the 2021 and 2022 school years and collected over 2,500 pairs of shoes for the organization to send to the less fortunate.
“I think I’ve benefited the community through my shoe drive, because honestly it’s the best thing I’ve done”, said Bent. I’ve gotten to collect thousands of pairs of shoes that have been sent all over the world to people in need.”
Even on top of the stressors of senior year, community involvement is still a large priority for Bent. With his consistent community dedication, Bent hopes to continue helping out and volunteering his time in Walpole.
“I think just being a good person is benefiting the community because people see what you’re doing and they do the same”, said Bent.
