St. Alphonsus, St. Patrick Students Win Essay Contest

Lemont, IL – Six students from St. Alphonsus/St. Patrick School received awards in the VFW's Patriot's Pen youth essay contest. The school said the essay contest encourages young minds to examine America's history, as well as their own experiences, by writing an essay espressing their views based on the theme, "Why I Honor The American Flag."

Six St. Al/St. Pat students received a certificate and $100 gift, including: Lia Alfonso, Madie Skwarek, Claire Young, Jacob Clark, Nick Buczyna and Jacquelyn Kroll. Kroll's essay was chosen to move on to the regional competition.

Each year more than 132,000 students in grades 6-8 enter the VFW’s Patriot’s Pen youth essay
contest, according to the school. The national first-place winner wins $5,000 and an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C. The first place winner from each state competes for national awards totaling $55,000, with each first place state winner receiving a minimum of $500 at the national level.

Photo provided by St. Al/St. Pat School.