ADVANCE – Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8719 has announced the winners of the Patriot’s Pen and Voice of Democracy competitions.

Students can compete at post, district, state and national levels to win thousands of dollars in cash prizes and scholarships. The state winner also receive an expense-paid trip for two to Washington, D.C. to be honored at the VFW and Auxiliary conference.

Students from grades 6-8 compete in the Patriot’s Pen essay contest by writing a 300-400 word essay. This year’s theme was “America’s Gift to My Generation.”

High school students from grades 9-12 compete in the Voice of Democracy by writing and then recording a 3-5 minute audio/essay expressing their views of this year’s patriotic theme, “ American History: Our Hope for the Future.”

On Saturday, Jan. 27, VFW Post 8719 presented awards and prize money to the students who were this year’s winners for the competitions at their annual awards banquet.

Commander D.J. Smith presented the winners of the Patriot’s Pen essay contest at Post level with certificates, pins, and prize money:

• first, Brian Dalton Warner, Ellis Middle School; $100;

• second, Abigail G. Wells, South Davie Middle School; $75;

• second, Reece V. Sigmon, North Davie Middle School; $75;

• third, Aria N. Tronsen, Ellis Middle School; $50;

• fourth, Margo M. Deal, North Davie Middle School; $25 cash; and

• fifth, Cecily F. Fishel, Ellis Middle School, $25.   

All of these students’ essays advanced to district level for judging.

Aria Tronsen, from Ellis Middle School, was the first place district winner of the Patriot’s Pen essay contest. She will receive $200 and a district award for being the first place winner at district level. Her essay also advanced to state level to be judged.

Cecily Fishel from Ellis Middle School was the third place district winner. She will receive $50 and an award.

Commander D. J. Smith also presented the winners of the Voice of Democracy Essay/Audio contest at Post level with certificates, pins, and prize money as follows:

• first, Savannah R. Beck, Davie High School, $100;

• second, Amber E. Bostic, Davie High School, $75;

• third, Nolan P. Tucker, Davie High School, $5; and

• fourth, Madison G. Boone, Davie High School, $25.

Savannah Beck will receive a $1,000 cash scholarship from the Joe H. King Memorial Scholarship Fund upon her high school graduation.

Beck and Amber Bostic’s essays/audios advanced to District level for judging. Beck was third place district winner. She will receive $50 and an award.

“We would like to say thank you to all of the teachers and students who participated in this year’s competitions. We would like to congratulate all of the winners on a job well done,” Commander Smith said.

“We would also like to recognize all of our judges this year and say a special thank you to Linda Barnette, Amanda Nichols, Tom O’Brien, W.G. “Dub” Potts and Brent Ward for being our judges at post level.”