Westlake Student Gets 3rd Place In VFW Essay Contest

WESTLAKE, OH — A Westlake High student recently took home third place in the local Veterans of Foreign Wars Voice of Democracy audio essay contest.

Westlake junior Nicholas Gauntner received $50 and a certificate for his essay on "Why My Vote Matters." Nicholas submitted his essay to Bay Village VFW Post 9693, for review by a panel of local veterans and teachers.

Westlake High Social Studies teacher Tim Clark offered students extra credit if they competed in the essay contest, prompting Gauntner to enter. The essay contest was open to students in grades 9-12. Gauntner was the only applicant from Westlake.

Bay Village VFW Post 9693 Commander Fred Green said there were four entrants from Bay Village High School and St. Joseph High School.

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The top winner from each VFW post advances to the District level. The District winner advances to the state level and state winners are invited to Washington, D.C. for the chance to win a $30,000 grand prize award. Nearly 40,000 high school students compete annually in the contest, winning nearly $2 million in scholarships and other prizes.

Gauntner is a member of the Westlake High School Orchestra, the Westlake varsity football team, and the varsity track team.

Photo from Westlake Schools