Isabella Cordova, of Seton School in Manassas, recently won the Daughters of the American Revolution American history essay contest. Her essay won first prize after advancing to the national level from local, district, state and division.
The eighth grader participated in this year’s essay topic, “Lunch with a Signer.” Contestants were asked to choose one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, write a fictional account about having lunch with him, and discuss how their signer contributed to the founding of the United States. The essays had to be creative and composed with historical accuracy, including a bibliography and correct documentation.
Cordova wrote her essay about Charles Carroll, the only Catholic signer of the Declaration. She explained how Carroll supported American independence before the Continental Congress, why he signed his name as “Charles Carroll of Carrollton,” and how he served after the Revolutionary War, including his efforts to end slavery. Cordova’s essay showed how important Carroll’s Catholic faith was to him and how it influenced his actions.
