DAR WINNERS — The Daughters of the American Revolution recognized 10 students from Harding Middle School following student submissions to the organization during its annual competition. The students created poems, posters and other presentations using the theme Sailing with the Stars and Stripes. Each earned honors on the regional, state and national levels. Those recognized included, from left, front, Navi Pearson, Alaina Ford, Nolan Greiner, Joel Thang and Renee Paris; and back, Vinny Kalinowski, Nathan Spencer, Darius Adler, Lilly Jeffries and Isaac Neff. -- Contributed

STEUBENVILLE — The Daughters of the American Revolution recognized 10 Harding Middle School students during its annual competition.

Students earned regional, state and national recognition for their entries into this year’s DAR contest to celebrate the organization’s 250th anniversary of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps.

The theme was Sailing with the Stars and Stripes. Participants had the chance to select a project to submit, which included a poster, stamp design, photo essay, banner, digital art, poetry, short story, graphic novel or community service project.

Navi Pearson completed a community service project while Alaina Ford and Vinny Kalinowski respectively submitted a poster and short story. Student Nathan Spencer created a stamp design.

Two teams of two worked together to complete banners, according to officials.

Renee Paris and Lilly Jeffries teamed up to make a banner, as did Issac Neff and Joel Thang.

Darius Adler created a photo essay, while Nolan Greiner wrote an original poem.

The students went on to win at the regional, state and national levels. Each will receive certificates and medals for their works.

“I went into nursing homes and took cupcakes and cards to all of the people,” Pearson said. “My grandma is involved with nursing homes and it was fun.”

Ford’s poster included a naval ship at sea, with the sky depicted as the U.S. Flag. Kalinowski wrote his essay about his great-grandfather, Clyde D’Angelo, who served in World War II.

Spencer noted his stamp design included the Marines and Navy, along with the number “250” in the middle “to show how important they were.”

Paris and Jeffries described their banner as including ships with information on the Navy and Marines, a heart and an American flag.

Neff and Thang’s banner depicted a Navy ship.

Adler’s photo essay included a cupcake with a candle celebrating the milestone.

Greiner’s poem “250 Years,” described the anniversary of the military branches.

All of the students said they have taken part in the contest before, and are pleased to receive the honors.

“I think it’s pretty cool,” Adler commented. “I was glad to be recognized for it.”

“I like that people liked my stamp as a cool thing to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Marine Corps and Navy,” Spencer added.

“It feels good to know people appreciated my poem,” said Greiner.

Danielle Kalinowski, social studies department head at Harding, said the school has participated in the contest for years.

She noted it was a great experience for the students, who received grades for their work.

“The ladies from the Daughters of the American Revolution group make up the theme each year,” Kalinowski explained. “At Harding Middle School, all of our social studies students in grades five through eight complete the project. We let the students pick which option they want to do.”

The students were presented with their awards during the school’s awards assembly held the last week of school.

“I am so excited and proud of the students,” Kalinowski concluded. “I loved seeing all of their work. I think they did a wonderful job. It’s a great project with a different theme each year, and I think it’s great for the students to show their artistic skills, while learning about social studies.”