Bay Village VFW recognizes essay winners

VFW scholarship winners Mariana Maddox, left, and Grace Beam receive their awards from Post 9693 Commander Fred Green.

Bay Village VFW Post 9693 announced the winners of the annual Voice of Democracy and Patriot's Pen essay scholarship contests.

The Voice of Democracy winner is Grace Beam, a senior at Bay High School. The Patriot's Pen winner is St. Raphael eighth-grade student Mariana Maddox. 

Voice of Democracy is open for all high school grades and Patriot's Pen is open to seventh and eighth grade. Both contests require a written essay; the high school project requires a recorded reading as well. Grace's essay was on the theme of “My Responsibility to America”; Mariana's essay was titled, "America’s Gift to My Generation."

Grace and Mariana both received awards from VFW Post 9693 consisting of a certificate, a commemorative pen and $150 scholarship. Awards were presented at the VFW meeting on Dec 12.  Both winners were joined by their parents for this honor.  

Both winners advanced to the District 7 competition for selection to the state and then national levels. Scholarship awards increase as the competition progresses. Unfortunately, neither essay was selected by District 7 to go on to the state level. Both essays were excellent and worthy of this honor. 

Congratulations to Grace and Mariana for their effort and citizenship.