VFW essay contest winners revealed

Winners of the VFW’s Patriot’s Pen and Voice of Democracy contests were recently announced.

First place in the Patriot’s Pen essay contest was awarded to Skylar Bergstrom, who received $50. Second place and $35 went to Mykenzi Blood and in third was Katrina Hagerman who received $25.

There were 83 entries from Plains Elementary School for the Patriot’s Pen contest, which is open to sixth, seventh and eighth graders. This year’s theme was “The America I Believe In.”

“We have some really good teachers that have their kids do it every year,” said contest organizer Carol Harris.

In the Voice of Democracy audio and essay contest, Plains High School student Kylee Altmiller earned first-place and $100 for her submission on the theme “My Responsibility to America.” There was only one entry.

The first-place submissions will go on to the state level.