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VFW honors contest winners |
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Thursday, 15 May 2008 |
The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #7655 and the Auxiliary held their annual banquet recently to honor the winners of the Voice of Democracy (VoD) speech contest and the Patriot Pen Essay contest.
The VoD has been sponsored by the VFW since 1947 and gives high school students in grades 9-12 the opportunity to voice their opinion on their responsibility and rights of being an American citizen.
The essay must be three to five minutes long and a product of the students’ own thinking. This year’s theme was “My Role in Honoring American Veterans.”
VoD chairman Marilyn Waite presented the awards and bonds to the Conrad High School students.
First place went to Kylee Schlepp. She also placed third at District and was awarded a $300 scholarship by Post Commander William Biggers.
Second place went to J.D. Hough and third place to Douglas Peters.
An award and gift was presented to CHS teacher Kendall Griggs for his support of the VoD contest.
The Patriot Pen youth essay contest is available to students of grades six through eight. This year’s theme was “Why I am an American Patriot.” The written essay must be a 300-400 word typewritten essay by the student.
The UMS winning entries were: Jessica Stenson, first; Deborah Lynn Jarchow, second; and Alexandria Widhalm-Hauer, third.
Their teacher, Tara Thielman, was also presented with a gift and award for her dedicated support of the Patriot Pen contest.
The Dutton/Brady school winners were Amanda H. Tharp, first; Savannah Yeager, second; and Courtney Jo Wilson, third. Their teacher is Linda Quilling.
Judges were recognized and they included Nancy Carlbom, Deb Perry, Jack Baringer, and Janice Keith.
District Two Commander Bert Rigby was also recognized. He is the District Patriot Pen chairman along with Waite, the local chairman.
Other awards went to Greg Yeager, presented by District Junior VP, Merrill Hawley for his Mercy Flight landing pad project at the hospital.
Soloist Susie Ward led everyone in singing the National Anthem and “God Bless America.”
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