Dale City, VA – District 10 held its annual awards ceremony on 1 March 2020 for the Teacher of the Year, Patriot’s Pen, and Voice of Democracy Programs. 

Each year more than 138,000 students in grades 6-8 enter the VFW’s Patriot’s Pen youth essay contest for a chance to win their share of more than $900,000 in state and national awards. Each first place state winner receives a minimum of $500 at the national level, and the national first place winner wins $5,000 and an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C.  The essay contest encourages young minds to examine America’s history, along with their own experiences in modern American society, by drafting a 300-to400-word essay, expressing their views based on a patriotic theme chosen by the VFW Commander-in-Chief.

Established in 1947, our Voice of Democracy audio-essay program provides high school students with the unique opportunity to express themselves in regards to a democratic and patriotic-themed recorded essay.  Each year, more than 51,000 9-12 grade students from across the country enter to win their share of more than $1.9 million in educational scholarships and incentives awarded through the program.  The first place winner receives a $30,000 scholarship paid directly to the recipient’s American university, college or vocational/technical school.  Other national scholarships range from $1,000-$16,000, and the first place winner from each VFW Department (state) wins a minimum scholarship of $1,000 and an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C.

The VFW Teacher of the Year award contest recognizes three exceptional teachers for their outstanding commitment to teaching Americanism and patriotism to their students.  Each year, a certified/licensed elementary, junior high, and high school teacher whose curriculum focuses on citizenship education topics can be nominated for the Smart/Maher VFW National Citizenship Education Teacher Award.  Winners receive a $1,000 award for professional development expenses, a $1,000 award for his/her school, two award plaques (one for the teacher, the other for their school), and an all-expenses-paid trip to attend a VFW conference to receive their award.

This year’s District 10 Award Winners are listed below.

Voice of Democracy

1^st Place, Leah Kane, Alexandria, VA, 12^th Grade, Yorktown High School, Post 3150

2^nd Place, Scott Buermeyer, Ashburn, VA, 12^th,Grade, Rock Ridge High School, Ashburn, VA, Post 1177

3^rd Place, Alisha Anand, Leesburg, VA, 11^th Grade, Paul IV Catholic High School, Post 8469

Patriot’s Pen

1^st Place, Valerie Castillo, 8^th Grade, St. Ann Catholic School, Arlington, VA, Post 3150

2^nd Place, Manas Puri, 6^th Grade, Keene Mill Elementary, Springfield, VA, Post 7327

3^rd Place, Roman Dembicki, 6^th Grade, Olde Creek Elementary, Fairfax, VA, Post 8469

Teacher of the Year

K-5

1^st Place, Marie Lankford, Post 8469

2^nd Place, Susan Waring, Post 7916

3^rd Place, Mary Saulsgier, Post 8241

6-8

1^st Place, Jennifer Conner-Harris, Post 7916 (1^st Place at Department)

2^nd Place, Catherine Rodriguez, Post 8469

3^rd Place, Raegan Ray, Post 1503

9-12

1^st Place, Jerome Hruska, Post 7916

2^nd Place Jennifer Boyko, Post 1503

For information about participating in any of these three programs in the 2020-2021 school year, check out the Programs section of the Virginia District 10 website at vfwvadist10.org later in the year.