Willow Creek students participate in VFW programs

Each year, VFW Pay Lau Post #7621 invites local students to participate in the Patriot's Pen and Voice of Democracy Contests.

There was great news last week at Willow Creek School with high school student Dalton Koosman selected as this year's local winner of the Voice of Democracy Contest.

According to the VFW, the Voice of Democracy is an audio-essay competition established in 1947 with more than 51,000 high school students annually participating. The theme in 2023-24 was "What are the Greatest Attributes of our Democracy?"

The Patriot's Pen contest is for six to eighth-grade students and is a 300 to 400 word where students in 2023-24 expressed their views on the theme of "How Are You Inspired by America?"

The students who participated in the contests were honored at a ceremony last week at the school.

Pictured are Willow Creek Students who participated in the Patriot's Pen and Voice of Democracy Programs. From left to right are Tori Schumacher, Savanah Davis, Jacob Delay, Phoenyx Appleton, Campbell Smith, Dalton Koosman, D.K. Brooks (VFW), Matt Bugland (VFW), Annabelle Slate, Gabe Colona, Warden Bridgewater, and Kylie Briceno.

According to D.K. Brooks of #7621, one night in November, five post members sat down to score all of the entries, and it wasn't easy to pick a winner.

"We are very thankful for all the students who participated and for their time and effort," he said.

A former Superintendent at Willow Creek, Brooks discussed the value of coming from a small school with the students.

"I know you come from a small school, and I personally know your teachers, and I know they are top-notch, and you will get the best education possible," he said.