School of St. Mary eighth grade students Isabel Das and Pierce Shepard were honored by the members of the Daughters of the American Revolution North Shore Chapter as winners of the annual DAR essay contest. This year the Daughters remembered heroes of the War of 1812 by requesting that students write about someone who had become famous during the war from the perspective of a friend. Isabel chose to write about Lucy Brewer, the first woman in the Marines. Pierce wrote about Isaac Hull, captain of the U.S.S. Constitution also known as “Old Ironsides.” Winners were notified in January and invited to attend an awards ceremony on February 9. At this ceremony, the winners read their essays aloud in their entirety not only to the members of the DAR but also to appreciative friends and family gathered for the occasion. They then each received a certificate and pin commemorating their achievement. A reception was held after the ceremony giving all an opportunity to congratulate the winners.