In a distinguished display of young talent and civic engagement, two 8th graders from Wethersfield Junior High have excelled in the District 8 Patriot’s Pen Youth Essay competition. Sydney Paxton claimed third place with her insightful essay on the theme “My Voice in America’s Democracy,” while her peer, Kayleigh Hampton, took fourth place. These impressive young scholars moved forward to the district level after triumphing in the local VFW Post 8078 competition. Each student’s work reflects their thoughtful engagement with the theme and their perspectives on our nation’s democracy. This competition is part of the VFW’s broader initiative to foster patriotism and thoughtful discourse among youth, with substantial national awards awaiting successful entrants. Congratulations to Sydney, Kayleigh, and all participants for their hard work and achievement.
Nearly 68,800 students from sixth to eighth grades enter the VFW Patriot’s Pen Youth Essay Contest for a chance to win a share of the nearly $1 million in state and national awards. The first-place state winner receives a minimum of $500 at the national level, and the national first-place winner gets $5,000.
“The essay contest encourages young minds to examine America’s history, along with their own experiences in modern American society, by drafting a 300- to 400-word essay, expressing their views based on a patriotic theme chosen by the VFW Commander-in-Chief.”