28 JULY 2022 By Cliff Summerhill Every year, local chapters of the Daughters of the American Revolution around the country award high school seniors with the Good Citizen Award for qualities rooted in dependability, service, leadership and patriotism to an outstanding degree. The Camelback Chapter of the DAR has awarded this year’s Good Citizen award to Veritas Preparatory Academy graduate Jake Marbach. According to DAR member Brenda Dettmann, Jake was chosen for this award because he participated in various organizations and activities during his high school career. He was also chosen because of an essay he wrote, called, “How do the qualities of a good citizen help support our nation?” Director of College Counseling at Veritas, Judi Paffenbarger, has been a big supporter of the Good Citizen award and helped bridge Marbach to the Camelback Chapter of DAR. She is also a former recipient of the award. Jake is a three-time Arizona State swimming champion and led the varsity team as captain. He was also honored as part of the 2021 USA Swimming Scholastic All-American Team. ( Read about a few of his achievements in the April and November 2021 editions of Arcadia News!) Marbach was a member of his high school’s elite choral group, acted as a school mentor, and was the Consul House Leader at Veritas Prep. He also served on the Arizona Science Center Teen Advisory Board. “I’m pretty proud of the DAR award because it means that I have been able to demonstrate leadership, citizenship, patriotism and dependability. I won the scholarship because of how I act every day with the people around me and the morals I stand by,” Jake said. The Good Citizen award consists of a framed certificate, a customized DAR Good Citizens’ pin and a monetary prize. Before graduating in May, Marbach was also given a math honor and an Academic Excellence Award. Jake will attend the United States Air Force Academy in the fall. “I plan on continuing to swim while at USAFA and will pursue a degree in mechanical engineering. I hope to be a pilot after graduation,” Jake said. While the Daughters of the American Revolution was founded in 1890, the Good Citizen award originated in 1934 as a scholarship contest to showcase students who embraced good citizenship throughout the country. The tradition continued with the Camelback Chapter when it was organized in 1982. “The origin of the Daughters of the American Revolution came about during a time that was marked by a revivalism in patriotism and intense interest in the beginning of the United States of America,” Dettmann shared. “The objectives laid forth in the first meeting of the DAR have remained the same in over 100 years of active service to the nation – history, education and patriotism.” The Daughters of the American Revolution has more than 3,000 chapters nationally, with Camelback being Arizona’s 15th chapter. dar.org Hard work and heart pay off for this graduate Judi Paffenbarger, Brenda Dettmann, Jacob Marbach and Deianna Jones. PHOTO COURTESY OF BRENDA DETTMANN The objectives of the DAR have remained the same in over 100 years of active service to the nation – history, education and patriotism. By Mallory Gleich Four years of high school have flown by for Scottsdale- native Chase An, and now it’s time for him to embark on his next adventure: The United States Naval Academy. Chase said that he’d admired the Armed Forces from a young age. However, he never saw himself joining up. “The ‘what if’ was always there, in my mind as I grew up, but it wasn’t until junior year that I decided to pursue that ‘what if,’” Chase said. A group of close friends – and one in particular – inspired him to look deeper into the Armed Forces as a post- graduation option. “One of my teammates from Phoenix Swim Club had always been someone I’d admired for his academic and athletic talent. He was an extremely well-rounded, motivated, and optimistic individual,” Chase said. “I watched him trudge through the application process, further develop as an individual, and achieve appointment to the United States Naval Academy a year ago.” Chase explained that it wasn’t just that single accomplishment that motivated him; it was years of being around the teammate’s motivational attitude toward life. “The idea of achieving appointment to an academy through character and rigorous academic and athletic work seemed like a challenge I had been preparing for my entire life,” he said. The Naval Academy is a four-year military institution located in Annapolis, Maryland. Chase said that all students graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree to help prepare them to take on a commissioned officer’s responsibilities in the Navy. The student body is known as the “Brigade,” and the students themselves are midshipmen. Chase said that there are around 4,200 students who attend. “It has many aspects of regular university with the added commitments and lifestyle changes that come with being a military institution,” he explained. “It is extremely rigorous, structured and tight-knit.” All midshipmen must play a sport, have mandatory military-related training and physical fitness tests, and study under a STEM-based course load. After graduation, a five- year commitment to the Navy or Marine Corps is required. Chase received a Letter of Assurance in November, which guaranteed him a spot as long as he had a nomination from a senator or congressperson. He went to various nomination interviews and received a letter from Senator Kyrsten Sinema in January. “Receiving the Letter of Assurance was extremely satisfying, but the celebration had to wait because I still had nomination interviews to do. Once I received a letter from Senator Sinema’s office congratulating me on the nomination, I finally felt content. A long six-month application process led to that feeling of security and accomplishment. It had finally paid off,” Chase said. He reported for Induction Day on June 30 and is currently attending six weeks of basic naval training – also known as plebe summer. “It’s a shock to the system, and I’m naturally nervous about being woken up by detailers banging on my door at 0500, the physical and mental challenges, and being thrown into a foreign environment with no one I know 2,000 miles from home,” he said. “I’m nervous, but it’s a healthy nerve that will make the experience fun and exciting and is more than expected heading into plebe summer.” He plans on majoring in engineering and aerospace at the academy, explaining that he has a very analytical, math- oriented way of thinking. “Conversely, I enjoy the free-flowing and creative aspects of visual arts; I believe it would be wise to apply these skills to engineering, where both are needed in their unique ways,” he said. He looks forward to new opportunities, trying out new sports and making new friends. Post-graduation, Chase plans to use the skills he’s garnered as “a carrier working on F-18s or manning a nuclear sub 300m under the sea. The future is big and scary, but I hope that the Naval Academy can guide me through this future so that my skills as an individual are utilized to their furthest extent,” he said. He also can’t wait for the Army-Navy game, stating as a final hurrah: “DON’T GIVE UP THE SHIP and BEAT ARMY!” Congratulations and best of luck, Chase! AHS graduate heads to the Naval Academy Chase An made his way to “plebe summer” in June. PHOTO COURTESY OF CHASE AN

NEST REALTY PHOENIX 480.331.5055 | nestphx.com THE MARKET IS CHANGING... ARE YOU READY? GET THE NEST REALTY APP It's the Phoenix Real Estate Market in the Palm of Your Hand download the app for free here