William Thomas Taylor, DAR Good Citizen for Emanuel County Institute for 2022-23, has been named the Emanuel County DAR Good Citizen. Taylor is the son of Russ and Lisa Taylor of Twin City. He exemplifies the DAR Good Citizen qualities of dependability, service, leadership, and patriotism. Taylor’s many accomplishments honor his family, his community, and his school. He will be recognized by the Governor David Emanuel-Adam Brinson Chapter of the Georgia State Society, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR) at the 2023 Emanuel county Institute Honor’s night in May.
The DAR Good Citizens Award and Scholarship contest were created in 1943. It recognizes and rewards graduating seniors who possess the qualities of dependability, service, leadership, and patriotism in their homes, schools, and communities. These students are selected by their teachers and peers because they demonstrate these qualities to an outstanding degree.
In his scholarship essay, Taylor wrote about the importance of honoring our nation’s heritage and our duty to preserve it for future generations. When people think of our nation’s people and past, they think of a country that has flourished and continues to flourish from its rich and varied history and that is an image we have to preserve.
Taylor is active in many clubs and organizations at ECI that give back to the community, most notably Beta Club and Fellowship of Christian Athletes, FFA, and FBLA.
In recognition of Taylor’s honor, Governor David Emanuel-Adam Brinson NSDAR Chapter will present the DAR Scholarship to him at the Emanuel County Institute Honor’s night.
9th grade accomplishments and involvements:
• Football 2019-20 season
• Bill Bonds Fellowship of Christian Athletes award
• 2019-20 Positive Athlete nominee
• FFA member
• FBLA member
• Star Honor Roll
• Senior Beta member
• Senior Beta State Convention
• Fellowship of Christian Athletes President
• 21st Century Leaders member
• Dual enrollment
• Academic letter
• Biology award
• Governor’s Honors Biology District nominee
• Audio/video production coordinator at Connection Church Millen
• Volunteer at Connection Church Millen services and events
• Member of Church Youth Group at Connection Church Millen
• Engage Global Missionary training
• FFA prepared public speaking
• Worked for grandfather at OA Hall Store
10th grade accomplishments and involvements:
• Football 2020-21 season
• FFA member
• FBLA member
• Star Honor Roll
• Senior Beta member
• Senior Beta State Convention
• Fellowship of Christian Athletes President
• 21st Century Leaders member
• Dual enrollment
• Academic letter
• Audio/video production coordinator at Connection Church Millen
• Volunteer at Connection Church Millen services and events
• Member of Church Youth Group at Connection Church Millen
• FFA impromptu public speaking
• Worked for grandfather at OA Hall Store
11th grade accomplishments and involvements:
• Football 2021-22 season
• Bill Bonds Fellowship of Christian Athletes award
• FFA member
• FBLA member
• Star Honor Roll
• Senior Beta member
• Senior Beta State Convention
• Senior Beta State Convention 5th place 3D design
• Fellowship of Christian Athletes President
• 21st Century Leaders member
• Dual enrollment
• Academic letter
• Student Council Representative
• One Act Play
• 2022 Region Literary Competition Duo Dramatic Interpretation 1st place
• University of Georgia Certificate of Merit
• Engineering Concepts award
• Bobcat LEAD Society EGSC
• 12th place 2022 TSA CAD Engineering
• Audio/video production coordinator at Connection Church Millen
• Volunteer at Connection Church Millen services and events
• Member of Church Youth Group at Connection Church Millen
• FFA prepared public speaking
• Worked for grandfather at OA Hall Store
• Usher at class of 2022 graduation
12th grade accomplishments and involvements:
• FFA member
• FBLA member
• Star Honor Roll
• Senior Beta president
• Fellowship of Christian Athletes President
• 21st Century Leaders member
• Dual enrollment
• Meghan’s Learning Academy Technical Support
• Academic letter
• Student Council president
• One Act Play team 1st runner-up
• One Act Play region 3A best actor award
• Citizens Bank Advisory board
• Audio/video production coordinator at Connection Church Millen
• Volunteer at Connection Church Millen services and events
• Member of Church Youth Group at Connection Church Millen
• Speaker at Millen Make a Difference See You at the Pole Rally
• Worked for grandfather at OA Hall Store
• ECI Today (school news) host/editor/director
• Led pep rally
When asked about Taylor’s service within the Community, he said:
“I have been involved in my community for a large portion of my youth. I have been involved in Audio/Video Production for my church since 6th grade and I have since moved to a more prominent role in setting up equipment and supervising volunteers who assist in the production side of a Sunday church service. This leadership role has allowed me to develop relationships with many youths at my church and get them involved in volunteer service on Sundays. Another place I have been involved in my community was leading the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. As president, I have led monthly meetings and assisted with community events such as the See You at the Pole Rally. I have also assisted my grandfather at his feed and seed store since the 7th grade. Working with my grandfather allowed me to experience caring for and assisting the elderly. I was also able to gain experience while providing customer service by working the cash register and helping customers load items such as bags of fertilizer, deer corn, and pine straw twine.”
When asked about the DAR /good Citizen qualities he embodies, Taylor said:
“I believe that I exhibit the qualities asked of a recipient of the DAR Good Citizen award. These qualities are dependability, service, leadership, and patriotism. Throughout my middle and high school careers, I have been regularly called upon to assist in many places in my community. As mentioned before, I have been in a prominent position leading much of the audio/video production at Connection Church Millen. In this position, there have been many instances where assistance was needed, and I was called upon to fill that role. In my work at OA Hall Store, I was called upon to assist in general maintenance and any immediate needs or crisis that may have arrived. In my school career, I have been asked to perform many services whenever a need may arise. When a teacher was unable to lead a pep rally, I was asked to take his place. Whenever someone needed to say a prayer at an event, I was ready to complete the task. These examples demonstrate my dependability, service, leadership, and patriotism in my community.”
When asked about his future plans and goals, Taylor explained:
“In the future, I plan to go to college and get a mechanical engineering degree. I also would like to remain active in my church and continue to assist my grandfather whenever I am able. I college, I will continue to find ways to become involved such as in clubs and organizations on or around campus.”
Our American Heritage and our responsibility for preserving it
By William Taylor
“How will the essential actions of a good citizen, dependability service, leadership, and patriotism meet the challenges that America will face in the next decade?”
In America’s history, moments of monumental change have always been met with contention. There have been protests, riots, and even wars born form these pivotal places in history. In a time of change, there must be leaders that embody the qualities of a good citizen in order for stability and peace to be maintained. The qualities of dependability, service, patriotism, and leadership will all be integral to the success of America in this decade and beyond.
In order to be a leader for our communities, one must be dependable. Always being ready and willing to act will be essential to the survival of the nation. In a time of such confusion and conflict as seen in civil issues such as abortion and LGBTQ and rights, one must be available to listen to all sides of every argument, giving the proper respect to any opinions, whether one may agree or not. Without a dependable mediator for these complex issues, any side may feel ignored or even threatened, which will lead to unnecessary division and conflict within our nation.
Service is another aspect of a good citizen that will be very important for the success of America in the future. Charitable service is a vital way to provide love and care for one’s community. Providing help for the poor, caring for the elderly and sick, or even helping a neighbor all promote unity among one another; however, this kind of service cannot be limited to just like-minded people. True service transcends the bindings of opinions and allows for service despite one self. The practice of such service will allow the nation to be unified while also maintaining the right to hold differing beliefs.
Patriotism is defined as love and devotion to one’s country, and this will be a very important factor in the future of America. Unfortunately, for many Americans, patriotism has moved beyond a love or respect for one’s nation; it has become an arrogant pride in the hearts of many Americans. While pride in one’s nation is admirable, that pride can grow to the point of blinding on to the shortcomings of the nation. This is a very dangerous position as a denial of issues only cause them to grow. True patriotism is to love one’s nation enough that one may be able to acknowledge and address the failures of this thawed nation. If we are to deny the fact that America is an imperfect nation, our façade of perfection will fall as the country crumbles from within.
The qualities of dependability, service, and patriotism are all a part of what makes both a good citizen and leader. In order to be a good leader, one must be dependable in one’s community, willing to service those around oneself, and willing to address the shortcomings of the nation. A leader who embodies these trials is essential to the survival of America. As seen in times such as the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, and the Civil Rights movement, America is at a pivotal point in its history. It is a house divided, and without good citizens and leaders it cannot stand.
