(Beaver Dam) The Beaver Dam VFW Post 1163 recently announced several contest winners. Three area youth were presented awards for the VFW Post’s annual Patriot’s Pen contest. This year’s essay theme was “How Can I Be a Good American?”
The contest encourages young minds to examine America’s history, along with their own experiences by drafting a 300-to-400 word essay. The winners were Kennedy Norris in first place, Jonah Brown in second place, and Ericka Reed in third place.
Three Beaver Dam High School students were winners in the Post’s Voice of Democracy contest. Ellen Poels was the first place finisher, Gracie Halfman second place, and Kayla Wilson in third place.
The National Association of Broadcasters started the Voice of Democracy Scholarship program in 1947. The VFW became a national sponsor in the late 1950s and assumed sole responsibility for the program in 1961.
The competition was created to provide students grades 9-through-12 the opportunity to express their democratic ideas and principles. Around 40,000 students participate in the competition annually and VFW awards more than $2.1-million-dollars in scholarships every year.
Top picture are Kennedy Norris 1st Place; Curt Gruenewald, Essay Contest Chairman; Jonah Brown 2nd Place; Keith Lauth, Post Commander; Ericka Reed 3rd Place.
Bottom picture are Curt Gruenewald, Contest Chair; Ellen Poels 1st Place; Gracie Halfman 2nd Place; Keith Lauth, Post Commander. Missing from photo: 3rd Place Winner Kayla Wilson.
