The Patriot Pen winners were: Autumn Lis in first place, Ellah DuBuque in second place, and Jozlyn Edwards in third place.

The Voice of Democracy winners were: Kera Nichols in first place, Sierra Hamilton in second place, and Sasha Tadajewski in third place.

Teacher Chanda Stafford did a wonderful job working to get 33 students to participate in the Patriot Pen project, and the VFW Post and Auxiliary appreciate her efforts.

Teachers Laurie Nugent and William Dever did an excellent job getting seven students to participate in the Voice of Democracy project.

Pictured in the front row, from left to right, are Ann Williams, VFW Auxiliary 2356 chairman of Patriot Pen and Voice of Democracy, VOD 2nd Place Winner Sierra Hamilton, VOD 1st Place Winner Kera Nichols, and VOD 3rd Place Winner Sasha Tadajewski. In back are VFW 2356 Post Commander Robert Hunt, and teachers Laurie Nugent and William Dever.

All these students have moved on to district competition for judging, then to state and hopefully national. Great scholarships are won from these essay contests.

A banquet will be held April 4, 2020, in honor of all these students, as well as the Teacher of the Year Nikki Oswald, and the Patriotic Art winner. Parents and immediate family will all be invited to the banquet.

The VFW Post and Auxiliary are proud of all the students who participated, and states that they are all winners.

Student essay contest winners were honored by the Hillman Community Schools Board of Education at its Nov. 11 meeting.

Pictured from left to right are Patriot Pen 2nd Place Winner Ellah DuBuque, Ann Williams, VFW Auxiliary 2356 chairman of Patriot Pen and Voice of Democracy, Patriot Pen 3rd Place Winner Jozlyn Edwards, teacher Chanda Stafford, and Patriot Pen 1st Place Winner Autumn Lis.