Each year the local VFW post, Post 8466, sponsors two contests for middle and high school students on some aspect of patriotism and democracy.
The Patriot’s Pen essay contest is open to all local middle school students, and this year there were over 150 300-word essays submitted. The winner was Maggie Wilder, second place went to Alexandra Sheffield, and the third plac went to McKenna Lloyd, all students at Franklin Academy Middle Schoo.
The Voice of Democracy contest requires high school students to write and present a four- to five-minute original patriotic essay. This year’s winner is Sarah Gaug, a student at Franklin Academy High School.
Students received their awards and cash February 6, 2017 at their respective schools. Awards were presented by Vice Commander Dave Martin and Committee Chairman Joe Cuska. Both essay contests are open to students from all over the United States. Contest winners are presented with cash prizes throughout the various levels of the contest culminating with a grand prize of $10,000 in scholarship awarded to the grand winners in each category.
