The Anna Keyes Powers chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution announced that Lauren Ingraham is the eighth-grade winner of the American History Essay Contest at the chapter and state levels.

Lauren’s winning essay was well researched, demonstrating a scholarly pursuit of excellence and abounding with surprising elements that caught and held the interest of the reader.

Out of the 20 chapter winners in New Hampshire, Lauren’s essay was chosen to represent the state at the divisional competition for the eighth-grade level.

The national winner will be announced at the Continental Congress in Washington, D.C., in July.

Lauren, who resides in Brookline, just completed the eighth grade at Hollis Brookline Middle School.

The essay topic was "A Colonial Family’s Reaction to the Stamp Act." Writers of this 600-1,000-word essay focused on the role the Stamp Act of 1765 played in organizing the colonists against the British king and Parliament.

At the DAR’s March chapter meeting at the home of Eleanor Whittemore in Hollis, Lauren read her winning essay to a delighted audience that included chapter members, guests and Lauren’s mother, Sheryl Ingraham.

Susan Santoski, DAR chapter competition chairwoman, presented Lauren with an award package that included the chapter-level bronze medal, a DAR certificate of achievement, a personalized book titled "The American Patriot’s Almanac: Daily Readings on America" by William J. Bennett and John T.E. Cribb, the Anna Keyes Powers chapter bookmark, pamphlets titled "Know Your Rights: The Bill of Rights" and "George Mason and the Bill of Rights" by Marie Tunstall Lingo, and a monetary award.

Lauren’s state-level accomplishment was recognized at the 115th NHSODAR awards luncheon in April in Concord. Lauren’s award included the state-level silver medal, a certificate of excellence in American history and a monetary award.

Anna Keyes Powers chapter Regent Carol Miller and other members attended the event.

One of the goals of the DAR is to perpetuate the memory and spirit of the individuals who established the United States. The DAR promotes historic preservation, education, patriotism and love of country, and is committed to assist in securing for humankind all the blessings of liberty.