On May 4, 2025, in Gibson City, Illinois, PBL students and staff were honored at the Governor Thomas Ford Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution Student Awards Program. The program celebrated the achievements of the award recipients from the American History Essay Contest and the Junior American Citizens Contest.
We would like to recognize Hilary Sawyer, Jena Schaumburg, Taylor Walwer, and Amanda Garrell for their dedication to promoting the American History Essay Contest and the Junior American Citizens Contest.
The students that were recognized at this awards ceremony were:
Graphic Novel: Theodore Kinzinger (1st Place in State & 1st Place National - 3rd Grade at Clara Peterson Elementary)
Poster Contest: Dawson Sorensen (2nd Place in State - 2nd Grade at Clara Peterson Elementary) & Rex Reber (1st Place in State & 3rd Place National - 5th Grade at Clara Peterson Elementary)
Stamp Contest: Lucas Chandler (1st Place in State & 2nd Place National - 3rd Grade at Clara Peterson Elementary), Seth Otto (1st Place in State & 1st Place National - 6th Grade at PBL Junior High) & Payton Mills (1st Place in State & 1st Place North Central Division - 6th Grade at PBL Junior High)
Short Story Contest: Kinley Kingery (1st Place at State & 2nd Place National - 3rd Grade at Clara Peterson), Tamatoa Suaava (1st Place in State & 2nd Place North Central Division - 4th Grade at Clara Peterson Elementary), Olivia Nordness (1st Place in State & 2nd Place North Central Division - 4th Grade at Clara Peterson Elementary), Gunner Whitaker (1st Place in State & 1st Place National - 6th Grade at PBL Junior High), Oliver Swenson (1st Place in State & 2nd Place North Central Division - 8th Grade at PBL Junior High), Kaitlynn Laboy (1st Place in State & 1st Place National - 10th Grade at PBL High School)
Poem Contest: Trevor Kimpel (1st Place at State & 1st Place National - 3rd Grade at Clara Peterson Elementary), Leah Thompson (1st Place at State & 2nd Place National - 4th Grade at Clara Peterson Elementary), Kedge Marshall (1st Place in State & 3rd Place National - 4th Grade at Clara Peterson Elementary), Tanner Cline (1st Place in State & 2nd Place National - 4th Grade at Clara Peterson Elementary), Evan Kovell (1st Place in State & 3rd Place National - 5th Grade at Clara Peterson Elementary), Landry Waugh (1st Place in State & 1st Place National - 6th Grade at PBL Junior High), Kat Sawyer (1st Place in State & 1st Place National - 6th Grade at PBL Junior High), Kameron Kief (2nd Place in State - 7th Grade at PBL Junior High), Weston Gustafson (1st Place in State & 2nd Place North Central Division - 8th Grade at PBL Junior High), Aubree Sawyer (1st Place in State & 1st Place National - 12th Grade at PBL High School)
Click here to check out the photos from the Governor Thomas Ford Chapter - Daughters of the American Revolution - Student Awards Program