The VFW Post 212 and Frances Sherman VFWA announced the 2023-24 Voice of Democracy and Patriot’s Pen winners. Awards will be presented on Dec.13 at 6:30 p.m. in the VFW club rooms.
The winner of the Voice of Democracy award is Autumn Fischer. The Patriot’s Pen winners are Adrianna Abbott and Haylee Clark.
Fischer is a 17 year old Senior at Susquenita High School. She participates in concert band, marching band, jazz band, concert choir, west side singers, chamber singers, fall play, spring musical, NHS, student council, and jiu-jitsu. She’s employed at Mission BBQ and has been accepted into Rochester Institute of Technology for their New Media Interactive Development Major. She is the daughter of Josh and Annie Fischer of Marysville and granddaughter of Jim and Diane Lapallo.
Abbott is a 12 year old 7th grade student at Floyd C. Fretz Middle School. She is the daughter of Christina and Casey Abbott. In school, she participates in soccer, cheerleading, and is a member of the Student Lighthouse Team. In her free time, she enjoys reading, drawing, singing K-pop, playing travel soccer, and spending time with her friends.
Clark is a 14 year old 8th-grader student at Floyd C. Fretz Middle School in Bradford. She is the daughter of Nathan Clark and Brittany Holsinger. In school, she is involved in student council and is currently playing for the basketball team. In her free time, she enjoys talking to friends, practicing basketball, and taking care of the many different animals on her farm.
For the Voice of Democracy contest, students were required to submit an audio-essay keeping with the 2023-24 theme: “What Are the Greatest Attributes of Our Democracy?” This is open to students in grades 9-12. Entries submitted are then judged at local level and have moved on to be judged at District 19 level. Entrants must follow rules put forth at a National level.
Patriot’s Pen 2023-24 theme was “How Are You Inspired By America?” This essay contest is open to students in grades 6-8 and requires the students to delve into American History. The essay entries were judged at local level and the top two, there was a tie, have moved on to judging at District 19 level.
