DAR Awards $1,200 Scholarship in American History

SAVANNAH, GA—September 30, 2003—The Savannah Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) has awarded April Duffie, a junior majoring in history at Armstrong Atlantic State University, the 2003-2004 American History Scholarship. The award, given in the amount of $1,200 annually, is presented to the top American history major at the university in memory of Hazelle B. Tuthill, a former history teacher in the Savannah-Chatham
County public schools.

Duffie says that this award has inspired her to work harder in school and to continue to keep up her grade point average. “The history professors are so wonderful here. They are behind me all of the time, giving me guidance and support,” says Duffie. She says that her school workload is challenging because she works in the History department and has two children to take care of at home, which gives her very little time to herself. “If I ever have time to myself, I love to refinish old furniture and would like to have a business doing that one day,” she said.

She says that she plans on using the scholarship money to travel to Brazil on a study abroad trip next year and to help her buy a computer. Her future education and career plans are to get a bachelor’s degree in history, then continue to graduate school and get a degree in public history. She also wants to teach in a high school.

The Savannah Chapter of the DAR created the Tuthill Scholarship to honor the memory of a woman who was an exemplary member of the group for much of her life. She served as president of the Savannah chapter and vice president of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR), and held various other positions on both the local and national levels. Tuthill was also instrumental in the establishment of Meadow Gardens in Augusta, the home of George Walton, the Georgia signer of the Declaration of Independence.

The NSDAR was founded in 1890, and more than 800,000 women have joined the organization through the years. Included in its objectives are to keep alive the memory and spirit of the men and women who helped achieve American independence, and to spread knowledge about the American Revolution in an effort to enlighten public opinion.