VERGENNES — Xander DeBlois was named DAR Good Citizen Scholarship contest second place winner for Vermont at the organization’s board of management meeting of the Vermont State Society on June 5.

DeBlois, the son of Matthew and Melissa DeBlois of Vergennes and a senior at Vergennes Union High School, received the award based on letters of reference, school activities, service to community, school transcript, his responses to contest questions and his future plans.

He was required to write an essay without prior knowledge of the subject within a two-hour time limit and without reference material. This year’s essay title was “Our American Heritage and Our Responsibility for Preserving It” with a focus question: “How do the combined actions of so many good citizens keep our nation moving forward?

DeBlois was given a certificate and a $100 cash award in recognition of his achievement, and as a student who exemplifies the DAR good citizen qualities of dependability, service, leadership and patriotism.

Senior students from any accredited Vermont high school are eligible to compete in the Good Citizen Scholarship Contest via local DAR Chapters. Essays and credentials are independently judged by non-DAR judges and winners from each of the sponsoring chapters advance to the state level of judging.