Saturday, February 23, 2013

Hannah Wiswell wins 2nd place in 2012 Patriot's Pen essay contest

Young Patriot's Pen essay contest winners were honored Feb. 16 by Rehoboth VFW Post 7447 and its Ladies Auxiliary. The Patriot's Pen essay contest, sponsored by the VFW, gives students an opportunity to prepare an original typewritten essay of 300-400 words expressing their views on democracy on a different given topic each year.
The top 46 national winners all receive at least $500; the first-place award is currently $5,000, plus an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C., for the winner and a parent or guardian. The topic for 2013-14 is What Patriotism Means To Me with a deadline of Friday Nov. 1, to VFW Post 7447.
Prizes are given out at post, district and state levels. First-place winner for Post 7447 was Mercedes Morgan Spray, a sixth-grade student at Sussex Academy. She was accompanied by her parents, grandmother, aunt and new 4-day-old baby brother.
Second-place winner was Hannah Wiswell, a sixth-grade student at Beacon Middle School, accompanied by her mother, Susan Wiswell. Third-place winner was Megha C. Patel, a seventh-grade student at Beacon Middle School, accompanied by her mother, Pratima Patel. Fourth-place winner, unable to attend, was Lucas R. Stuchlik, a sixth-grade student at St. Mary Magdalene School in Wilmington, with a family summer home in Rehoboth.
For entry forms for the 2013-14 contest, contact Barbara McGowan, 302-645-7689, or email barbaramcgowan1@verizon.net.
Shown  are (l-r) VFW Post 7447 Ladies Auxiliary President Anna Smith, Post Commander Edward J. Tucker, second-place Post 7447 Patriot's Pen winner Hannah M. Wiswell and her mother, Susan Wiswell, at the awards program at Post 7447 on Feb. 16. (Source: Submitted)