Legion Auxiliary honors Americanism Essay contest winners
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[The American Legion Auxiliary Alva Courier Unit #487 honored winners of the Americanism Essay Contest at an awards banquet. Chester students in grades 7 through 12 participated in the recent contest. The students with winning essays, their parents, family members, teachers, administrators and contest judges were invited to the event. A delicious meal of spaghetti casserole, side dishes and dessert was prepared and served by Auxiliary members to over 80 people at the American Legion Hall in Chester. Following the meal, the students read their essays entitled "Celebrating America and Our Heritage". Each student received a monetary award, Certificate of Achievement, a Presidents' ruler, a small American Flag and two bookmarks. The essays presented various and creative thoughts regarding American celebrations, patriotic events and many components of our heritage.
The American Legion Auxiliary sponsors the Americanism Essay Contest annually to encourage creative writing and to aid in teaching Americanism and Good Citizenship. The contest is divided into three classes for students in 7th-8th grades, 9th-10th grades and 11th -12th grades. Staff members from St. John Lutheran School, St. Mary's Catholic School, Chester Grade School, CHEST Home School, and Chester High School cooperated by having their students participate in this essay project. Over 180 essays were submitted to Americanism Chairman Carolyn Schwent and the essays were judged on the basis of content, organization and correct usage. Local retired teachers Emily Lyons, Linda Saunders and Mary Ann Stumpe served as judges. Essays were only identified by numbers for the judging and not student names. The Auxiliary gave monetary awards for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place essays.
The winners of this year's Americanism Essay Contest included:
Class I - 7 & 8 grades:
St. John Lutheran School
1st Place - Alyssa Hoops (7th) - daughter of Royce and Shelly Hoops
2nd Place - Mallory Westerman (8th) - daughter of Bruce and Linda Westerman
3rd Place - Brett Bunselmeyer (8th) - son of Dewaine and Becky Bunselmeyer
St. Mary's Catholic School
1st place - Elizabeth Heffernan (7th) - daughter of Mike and Joan Heffernan
2nd place - Reilly Holley (7th) - son of Richard and Julie Holley
3rd place - Mikayla Atchison (8th) - daughter of Mike and Denice Atchison
Chester Community Grade School
1st place - Jason Heberlie (7th) - son of Robert and Mary Ann Heberlie
2nd place - Rachel Clendenin - daughter of Troy and Connie Clendenin
3rd place - Luke Hartman (7th) - son of Vernon and Julie Hartman
CHEST Home School
1st place - Katie Kerkhover (8th) - daughter of Ed and Rhonda Kerkhover
2nd place - Morgan Stewart (8th) - daughter of Ronda LaRose and Tom Stewart
Class II - 9 & 10 grades
1st place - Eddie Kerkhover (10th) - son of Ed and Rhonda Kerkhover
2nd place -Allison Petrowske (10th) - daughter of Kevin and Ann Petrowske
3rd place - Casey Venable (10th) - son of Steve and Carolyn Venable
Class III - 11 & 12 grades
1st place - Jordan Clendenin (12th) - daughter of Troy and Connie Clendenin
2nd place - Laura Liefer (12th) - daughter of Ron and Amy Liefer
3rd place - Rachel Sheely (12th) - daughter of Ron and Pam Sheely
The First Place essays of Jason Heberlie, Eddie Kerkhover and Jordan Clendenin advanced for competition at the Auxiliary District level.
Alva Courier members and Americanism Chairman Carolyn Schwent wish to thank all the students for their creative efforts, the local teachers for their guidance and cooperation, the families for encouraging the students and attending the event, and the judges for their hours of careful consideration. The Auxiliary Unit is proud to sponsor this annual event to honor outstanding students and will continue to support educational activities in the community and local schools.