VFW hosts awards for area students’ essays

By Jillian Smith on Saturday, December 7, 2019
  • Veterans of the Foreign Wars Post 8560 Post Trustee Art Romanat emceed a reception and dinner for the area winners of the VFW’s annual Patriot’s Pen and Voice of Democracy programs Thursday evening. Staff photo by Jillian Smith
    Veterans of the Foreign Wars Post 8560 Post Trustee Art Romanat emceed a reception and dinner for the area winners of the VFW’s annual Patriot’s Pen and Voice of Democracy programs Thursday evening. Staff photo by Jillian Smith
  • Bailee Folis from North Hopkins school was presented first place in the Veterans of the Foreign Wars Post 8560 essay contest, Patriot's Pen, from Post Commander Richard Nail at a reception held Thursday evening.
    Bailee Folis from North Hopkins school was presented first place in the Veterans of the Foreign Wars Post 8560 essay contest, Patriot's Pen, from Post Commander Richard Nail at a reception held Thursday evening.
  • Brandon Hodges, a Sulphur Springs High School student, was presented second place for his Voice of Democracy entry in this year's contest sponsored by the VFW. Post Commander Richard Nail presented the award Thursday evening at a reception.
    Brandon Hodges, a Sulphur Springs High School student, was presented second place for his Voice of Democracy entry in this year's contest sponsored by the VFW. Post Commander Richard Nail presented the award Thursday evening at a reception.
  • VFW Post Commander Richard Nail (left) presented North Hopkins High School student Jacqueline Perez with a third-place award for her entry in the VFW-sponsored Voice of Democracy contest.
    VFW Post Commander Richard Nail (left) presented North Hopkins High School student Jacqueline Perez with a third-place award for her entry in the VFW-sponsored Voice of Democracy contest.
  • VFW Post Commander Richard Nail (left) presented Jessica Hatley (right), a student at North Hopkins ISD, with a first place plaque and monetary prize Thursday evening for her Voice of Democracy entry.
    VFW Post Commander Richard Nail (left) presented Jessica Hatley (right), a student at North Hopkins ISD, with a first place plaque and monetary prize Thursday evening for her Voice of Democracy entry.
  • Shane Ingram (right), a middle school teacher in the North Hopkins school district, was recognized Thursday evening at a reception for his efforts in encouraging and helping his students' participation in the VFW's Voice of Democracy contest. The award was presented by Post Commander Richard Nail (left). Ingram has been pushed forward to the VFW's district level. Staff photos by Jillian Smith
    Shane Ingram (right), a middle school teacher in the North Hopkins school district, was recognized Thursday evening at a reception for his efforts in encouraging and helping his students' participation in the VFW's Voice of Democracy contest. The award was presented by Post Commander Richard Nail (left). Ingram has been pushed forward to the VFW's district level. Staff photos by Jillian Smith

Voice of Democracy

Sulphur Springs Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8560 hosted six area students Thursday evening for dinner and awarded them for their exemplary work for Voice of Democracy and Patriot’s Pen.

Students from Sulphur Springs, North Hopkins and Cooper independent school districts gave speeches on “What Freedom Means to Me” and wrote essays on “What Makes America Great.” All essays submitted to the local VFW were graded and recommendations made to the district headquarters in Pittsburg, Texas. Judges at that post reviewed the recommendations and selected which essays would be forwarded to the state-level competition.

The students’ teachers were also awarded.

“Teachers participated by assisting their students to express themselves and encouraging their efforts,” said past post commander and current Post Trustee Art Romanat at Thursday’s presentation. “The students and teachers displayed excellent comments, ideas and efforts which, quite frankly, made the selection of the winners a difficult task.”

For the Patriot’s Pen essay contest, first place was awarded to Bailee Folis of North Hopkins.

In the Voice of Democracy speech competition, first place was awarded to Jessica N. Hatley of North Hopkins, second place went to Brandon L. Hodges of Sulphur Springs, and third place went to Jacqueline E. Perez of North Hopkins.

Hodges and Hatley have been recommended for district competition at the VFW Pittsburg headquarters and could advance to the state level. Winners of the district competition will be announced at the district VFW annual meeting, which will be held at local Post 8560 on Jan. 18, 2020.

All students were awarded plaques and monetary prize, presented by Post Commander Richard Nail.

Teachers recognized for their efforts in this year’s competitions were Sherri Hocutt of North Hopkins in the kindergarten through fifth grades division, Shane Ingram from North Hopkins on the sixth through eighth grades division and Larry Stowers from Cooper in the ninth through 12th grades division. Teachers also received plaques and a monetary award.

Romanant then announced Ingram was pushed forward for consideration as Teacher of the Year. This award recipient is selected by the VFW district office. Teacher of the Year will be officially named at the district meeting.

Superintendents Michael Lamb for Sulphur Springs, Dr. Darin Jolly for North Hopkins and Denicia Hohenberger for Cooper ISD with Sulphur Springs High School Principal Derek Driver, secondary principal at North Hopkins Brian Lowe and Cooper High School Principal Richard Roan were present for the awards.

VFW posts around the country sponsor these local Patriot’s Pen and Voice of Democracy programs that award national-level prizes of $30,000 in scholarships for the former and $5,000 for the latter. Patriot’s Pen is for students in sixth-eighth grades and Voice of Democracy for students in grades 9-12.

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