Region 15 Students Participate In VFW Patriot's Pen Contest

From Region 15 Schools: 8th grade students from Memorial Middle School (MMS) in Middlebury and Rochambeau Middle School (RMS) in Southbury participated in the Patriot’s Pen youth essay contest sponsored locally by George Newton VFW Post 1607.

The Patriot’s Pen is a national youth essay contest that encourages students to write essays expressing their views on an annual patriotic theme chosen by the VFW Commander-in- Chief. Each year more than 125,000 students in grades 6-8 enter the VFW’s Patriot’s Pen contest. To participate in the contest, eighth grade students wrote essays based on the 2018-19 theme, “America’s Gift to My Generation.” Essays were then judged by members of the VFW on theme development, clarity of ideas, and knowledge of the theme.
The contest consists of four levels, with the entry level sponsored by local VFW Posts.

Post winners then advance to the VFW regional level; the first-place winner then advances to the VFW state level. The first-place winner at the VFW State level advances into the VFW National competition. The following students were first place winners of the local post level at MMS: Grace Cerneck, Gillian Hotaling, Liam Yorns, Katie Mickune, Elise Moreira, Capreae Sorrels and Hailey Thompson. The following students were first place winners of the local post level at RMS: Ava Augustine, Reilly Burke, Emily Clark, Katherine Dolan, Ryan Hocker, Kateryna Hrishina, Brianna Stewart and Naomi Stietzel. Liam Yorns from MMS and Ava Augustine and Kateryna Hrishina from RMS advanced to the VFW regional level. Ava was the winner at the regional level and advanced to the state level. Ava’s accomplishment was recognized in a ceremony reception in Rocky Hill, CT on January 14th , 2018. 8th grade history teachers coordinate the program at the two middle schools. Karl Buckley and LeAnn Cassidy coordinate the program at MMS and Cheryl Horton and
Lauren Neth coordinate the program at RMS. Teachers use the opportunity to integrate themes of patriotism, service, sacrifice, and freedom into student writing.

“The program’s purpose is to foster true patriotism and to put into action the students’ thoughts regarding their responsibility to their country, freedom, and democracy,” said Larry Williams, Commander of VFW Post 1607.

Image Via Region 15 Schools