Three winners from each grade level selected

For the Tomahawk Leader

TOMAHAWK – In honor of Veterans Day, over 140 Tomahawk Middle School students earlier this month wrote essays based on the theme “What is Patriotism to Me?”

“Their essays were entered into an essay contest that is made available for students nationwide by the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) to promote critical thinking and clarity of ideas regarding our great nation,” said Corinne Burcalow, retired VFW Post 2687 Auxiliary president and contest co-chair.

The students’ essays were required to be between 300 and 400 words long and have a completed entry form. All essays meeting the criteria were submitted to retired school staff members for judging. The judges selected first, second, and third places from each of the three grade levels: 6th, 7th, and 8th. VFW Post 2687 and Auxiliary members delivered monetary prizes to Middle School Principal Wendell Quisenberry for presentation to the first, second, and third place winners for the three grade levels.

Winners by grade level were as follows:

Sixth grade: Shelby Borokowski, first place; Ryan Sundquist, second place; Novalyne Jashinsky, third place.

Seventh grade: Jennie Frederickson, first place; Faith Derleth, second place; Ethan Gebault, third place.

Eighth grade: Scarlet McKenzie, first place; Riah Petta, second place; Lauren Hansmann, third place.

“The fact that there were approximately 140 essays submitted is important because the VFW rules state that one essay can be forwarded to VFW District for every 15 essays submitted, so all 9 winning essays from the Tomahawk Middle School have been forwarded to the VFW District level for judging,” Burcalow explained.

The VFW District 10 area encompasses all counties north of Highway 64, and west of Highway 51 to the state lines. VFW Posts and Auxiliaries from those counties can also submit Patriots Pen essays for competition. The winning essays from VFW District will be sent to VFW State for judging, and the winning essays at VFW State level will be sent to VFW National level. There are prizes at each level.

“The Wurl-Feind-Ingman VFW Post 2687 and Auxiliary members wish to thank all students for their participation, and also congratulate the students who wrote the winning essays,” Burcalow said.