Black Diamond VFW post honors essay contest winners
The students were invited to Monday’s VFW Post 1409 meeting to receive their awards.
The students were invited to Monday’s VFW Post 1409 meeting to receive their awards.
For the MVI
Six Mon Valley students were recognized for their winning entries in annual essay contests sponsored by the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1409 in Black Diamond.
Each year the post sponsors two essay contests: Patriot’s Pen for middle-schoolers and The Voice of Democracy for high school students.
Since 1947, the Voice of Democracy (VOD) program has been the VFW’s premier scholarship program with nearly 27,000 high school students competing for more than $2 million in scholarships and incentives.
The essays are judged by local posts and then the essays from the first-place winners progress to district, state and national levels. The nationwide winner of the VOD received a $35,000 award.
The theme for the Patriot’s Pen essay was, “How are you inspired by America?”
First place winner at the post level was Ringgold Middle School student Reagan Czaniecki, daughter of Jen and Randy Czaniecki.
Second place went to Zoey Chilzer, daughter of Camille and Jeremiah Chilzer.
Winning third place was Zoey Charlton, daughter of Shannon Charlton. Both students attend Charleroi Middle School.
The theme for The Voice of Democracy contest was, “What are the greatest attributes of our democracy?” This contest required the student to submit a written essay along with an audio recording of them reciting their essays.
First place went to Andrew Nibbs, son of Chilufya Nibbs, who was also honored at the district level.
Second place went to Alexandria Lassige, daughter of Marianne and Henry Lassige, and third place went to Olivia Bianchi, daughter of Ann and Kirk Bianchi. All three students attend Ringgold High School.
VFW Post 1409 essay program co-sponsors are U.S. Army veteran and post chaplain Ray Evans, and U.S. Navy veteran Gena Sproul, who serves as post judge advocate general.