Daughters of American Revolution members honored a Distinguished Alumni

Monday, August 10, 2026 at 12:00 AM

By Kathy Bottorff

Plymouth High School Alumni Association awards Daughters of the American Revolution members “Distinguished Alumni”

The Plymouth High School Alumni Association is proud to name the recipient of its 2026 “Distinguished Alumni” as PHS graduates who are members of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). DAR is a national organization established in 1890 and chartered in 1896 that represents patriotism, Americanization, historic preservation, philanthropy, and education.

As the United States celebrated its 250th birthday this summer, the Alumni Association wanted to commemorate those whose ancestors fought for the freedoms that America still celebrates today. The Distinguished Alumni has been presented to both individuals and groups in the past, and this year’s award captures several PHS alums across a large number of graduating classes.

The Distinguished Alumni were recognized on stage at the annual PHS Alumni in the Park event, held at River Park Square on Friday, August 7.

PHS graduates who are members of the Tippecanoe River-Wythougan Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution who were honored during the ceremony were:

Mary Eileen Helms – 1940

Jane Peters Silvey – 196

Cheryl Peters Ball – 1964

Linda Troyer Starr - 1965

Vicki Johnson Miller - 1967

Ellen Myers Hummel - 1968

Susan Johnson Guljas – 1968

Brenda Brockus Meyers - 1970

Susan Wilson - 1972

Beth Read Cashen - 1974

Melissa Caine Christiansen - 1979

Ellen Stewart Brown – 1980

Marilyn Schmidt Byers - 1985

Heather Johnson - 1989

Jennifer Harness - 1995

Naomi Harness Podlesak - 1995

Angie Johnson Birchmeier – 1996

Lisa Nifong Reichard - 2001

Mae Christiansen - 2009

The Alumni Association is grateful for the tremendous community impact these DAR members have in Plymouth - both in the schools and in the community at large. The Alumni Association also thanks its generous donors who helped raise money during Friday night’s event, which will go toward a scholarship fund for future PHS graduates.

Join us on Friday, August 6, 2027 for our next PHS Alumni in the Park celebration!