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The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8719 of Advance held the Patriot’s Pen and Voice of Democracy essay competitions for Davie students.

Students can compete at Post, District, State and National levels to win cash prizes and scholarships. The state winner also receives an all-expense paid trip for two to Washington, D.C. to be honored at the VFW and Auxiliary Conference.

Students from grades 6-8 compete in the Patriot’s Pen essay contest by writing a 300-400 word essay. This year’s theme was “How are you inspired by America?”

High school students from grades 9-12 compete in the Voice of Democracy by writing and then recording a 3-5 minute audio/essay expressing their views of this year’s patriotic theme, “What are the greatest attributes of our Democracy?”

The awards will be presented to the winners at individual schools.

The post level winners of the Patriot’s Pen essay contest will be presented with certificates, pins and prize money as follows:

First, Lily E. Tronsen, Ellis Middle School; $100; second, Sylas Cole Johnson, South Davie Middle School, $75; third, Olivia H. Rareshide, Ellis Middle School, $50; fourth, C.J. Smith, Ellis Middle School, $25; and fifth. Ian S. Rareshide, Ellis Middle School, $25.

These student essays advanced to District level for judging. At the District level, where C.J. Smith was the first place winner, receiving $200, and Sylas Cole Johnson was second, receiving $100.

C.J. Smith’s essay will advance to the state level.

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The winner of the Voice of Democracy Essay/Audio contest at post level will be presented with a certificates, pins and prize money as follows:

First, Gavin W. Lucus, Davie County High School (JROTC), $100; second, Calvin A. Phelps, Davie High (JROTC), $75; and third, Evan Trent Aarhus, Davie High (JROTC), $50.

Gavin W. Lucus will receive a $1,000 cash scholarship from the Joe H. King Memorial Scholarship Fund upon high school graduation.

The post level winners of the Voice of Democracy essay/audio also advanced to district level for judging.

Jim Cooper and Commander Tom O’Brien were judges at post level for the Patriot’s Pen Essay contest and the Voice of Democracy Essay/Audio contests.

“We would like to say thank you to teachers and students who participated in this year’s competitions. We would like to congratulate all winners on a job well done,” O’Brien said.