Four McDonough County students have been awarded $500 scholarships from the McDonough County Republican Central Committee.
Scholarship recipients include Aimee Howerter from Trinity Academy, Jacquelynne Rouse from Macomb High School, Maicyn Shipman from West Prairie High School and Presley Ingles from Bushnell-Prairie City High School.
In addition to a variety of required application materials, to be considered for the 2026 McDonough County Republican Central Committee Scholarship, students also had to pen an essay (500 words maximum), answering the question, 'How Does 250 Years of American Independence & Freedom Impact Me Today?'
Excerpts from the essays: Howerter: At the start of our country, the founding fathers were committed to preserving life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. From their efforts, the lantern of good shines through many crevices even 250 years later. I see how American independence and freedom impacts me through my family, my ability to flourish, and my future goals. My family is not conventional. I have four adopted siblings, who are all different in their own way. When I was twelve, we adopted three children from Colombia, and I became close friends with the middle of them, Melany. We spent days swimming in our pond, playing with dolls and enjoying each other even though we did not speak the same language at that time. The beautiful thing about America is that everyone has equal opportunity. I see the freedom of America through my family because all of my adopted siblings have received the opportunity to be a part of what America is, a melting pot of citizens.
Freedom is very important to me, as well as independence.
In my own life I consider myself a goal-oriented individual. I love striving after accomplishments and doing my best in all areas of my life. By being an American citizen, I am able to do these things. I am able to pursue an education and build a company if I desire, I am able to flourish because the very foreground of our nation ensured that ability at the prospect of the American dream. Finally, I am impacted by those decisions made 250 years ago because as an American young woman I am able to pursue my dreams however I wish.
Rouse: As the primary author of the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson sought to unite colonists whose beliefs clashed over issues such as slavery, economics, and the best form of government for the future country. With terms such as 'all men,' 'unalienable rights,' 'we the people,' and 'the United States' featured in the Declaration of Independence, he offered justifications for uniting a diverse assembly from Georgia to Massachusetts. This document and these words still impact each of us today-250 years later. Living in freedom is the ability to choose our beliefs, our work, and our future. I can honor my values without restraint, speak candidly, and make decisions about how to engage with others. That is not the case everywhere in the world. Since I turned 18 this past fall, I just voted in my first election. I'm mindful that the simple act of casting a ballot, reading a free press, or disagreeing respectfully is something for which people in other nations still fight and die. These freedoms are not accidental. They are earned through the selfless service of public servants, community volunteers, and military personnel. Freedom is also the power to change our minds, our laws, and our direction as a people. An enduring aspect of America is that we are not bound by where we started. We are a nation that evolves, one that makes course corrections, reforms, and aspires towards a 'more perfect union.' The road of progress has been propelled by courageous citizens and visionary leaders, some in uniform and others in public office.
Shipman: In my opinion, the last 250 years have given me, as an 18-year-old young woman, who is just coming into adulthood, two very important rights: the right to vote and the right to choose my own career. It took many years, a lot of fight and a century of unfairness for women to be given the right to vote. This seems kind of silly to me now, because being able to vote is just as normal as getting my haircut or picking out a new outfit. I can't imagine a world where a woman was told she was not important enough to have her own thoughts and opinions, especially about politics and the government. But if I think back on how much has changed over the last 250 years, I realize that Susan B. Anthony and many other women fought a long and hard battle that was neither easy nor guaranteed. The right to vote is not only a privilege, but also a way for us to make a change and to hold the leaders of our Nation accountable. This right is something that my Mom and Grandmas, and even Great Grandmas have always been able to participate in, but was not always the case generations before them. It is amazing to think of how far we have come as a Nation and I am honored that women way before my time fought so that all of these years later, an 18-year-old girl like me, would be allowed to vote and have her voice heard. Another thing that has impacted me in the last 250 years is the right to choose my own career.
I know that many years ago, women were not allowed in the workforce. We were expected to stay home and take care of the children and the home … My Mom worked until she had my youngest brother, and then spent several years as a stay-at-home Mom, raising myself and my brothers until we were all in school. However, my Mom was allowed to make that choice. She also chose to go to college and have a career for many years before choosing to stay home. Again, it is hard to imagine a world where women were forced to be home and not have the choice to make a difference in the workforce.
Ingles: America's foundation is based on the ideal of 'Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.' America is a democracy where every citizen's voices and ideals matter. We are given the opportunity to be part of the way our country is run and progresses for future generations. As a young woman in America, American independence and freedom greatly impact my life today. Women in some countries still are not allowed to vote, work, own property, or even get an education. America has evolved over the years, allowing women to not only participate in all of these things, but to also be treated as equals while doing so. Besides all of the freedoms women have in America that are not offered to women in some other countries, all Americans have many rights and freedoms that are not allowed around the rest of the world. In America, we have the right to freedom of speech. That means no matter how we feel or think about something and no matter who disagrees, we are allowed to express our opinions and ideas without censorship or fear of punishment. We also have the freedom of religion, press, assembly, and petition. Those are all covered under the first amendment. The fifth amendment protects us against self-incrimination and ensures due process by allowing us the right to remain silent. We also have the right to keep and bear arms. This allows us to protect ourselves when necessary, covered in the second amendment.
The fourth amendment protects us against unreasonable searches and seizures without a warrant to do so, to protect our personal privacy. As an American woman, the nineteenth amendment gives me the right to vote. Before 1920, I would not have been able to do so. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was a major legal victory for women, prohibiting employment discrimination based on race, sex, or religion.
