BRICK – Numerous students and one teacher from the Brick schools received awards and prizes totaling up to $4,700 at the annual VFW Youth Awards Program held on Jan. 21 at the VFW Post.
Receiving the Smart/Maher VFW National Citizenship Education Teacher Award was Major Donovan Davis, instructor of the Brick High School JROTC.
Approximately 250 students participated in the 2018 patriotic essay contest hosted by the VFW. For high school students grades 9 through 12, the Voice of Democracy audio-essay contest theme was “Why My Vote Matters.”
The Brick Township High School winners include:
- 1st: Orion Danielson
- 2nd: Rachael Harvey
- 3rd: Gianna Hoffman
For Brick Memorial High School:
- 1st: James Thornely
- 2nd: Jackie Cook
- 3rd: Jaclyn Smith
“The VFW is dedicated to promoting Patriotism and investing in our future generation. Annually VFW National top awards are a $30,000 scholarship to a high school student and $5,000 to middle school,” said VFW Post 8867 Cmdr. Albert Veltri, Jr.
For middle school students grades 6-8, the Patriot’s Pen contest is composed of written essays. The 2018 theme was “Why I Honor the American Flag.”
The winners from Veterans memorial Middle School are:
- 1st: Shannon Novellano
- 2nd: Colleen Crate
- 3rd: Kaylie Tanella
From the Saint Dominic School:
- 1st: Kayla Celano
- 2nd: Sebastian Berg
- 3rd: Miles McFarlane 3rd
From Lake Riviera Middle School:
- 1st: Alex Jenkoski
- 2nd: Rachel Peltier
- 3rd: Kevin Ramirez
