Three WJHS Students place in Americanism Essay Contest

Post date: Apr 05, 2013 3:31:19 PM

Three Wells Junior High School students have learned that they have received Honorable Mention for their participation at the local level of the AMVETS National Americanism Essay Contest and American Legion Auxiliary Americanism Essay Contest for 2013.

On March 13th, Deb Coady, Chaplain with the AMVETS Ladies Auxiliary #3 in Sanford visited WJHS to offer her congratulations and present eighth grade students Kayla Looper, Emily Cottis, and Wesley Moody with an American flag.

“They wrote outstanding essays and should be very proud,” wrote Coady to Principal of WJHS Chris Chessie before her visit. “I am proud of the students,” added Coady when asked to comment while at WJHS.

The theme of this year’s essay was, ‘Why is it important to vote?’ For their response, each student had to write between 350-400 words. Themes vary from year to year in this essay contest which is open to 6th through 12th grade students.

Looper, Cottis, and Moody are in the English Language Arts Class of Julie Esch at WJHS. All three students will now have their essays automatically entered into the National level of this contest.

Deb Coady and Sgt.-at-Arms/Americanism Officer Shirley Girard of the AMVETS Ladies Auxiliary in Sanford coordinate the contest locally with Deb L’Heureux, President of the American Legion Ladies Auxiliary.

The G.I. Dames supplied 12 of the American Flags awarded in the contest. These flags were donated to the G.I. Dames from the Flag Company and Annin Flagmakers. In addition, AMVETS Post 3 donated four more flags. The American Legion Ladies Auxiliary Post 19 in Sanford donated prize money to students placing above Honorable Mention in the local portion of the Americanism Essay Contest.

Caption: From left to right are Deb Coady, Wesley Moody, Kayla Looper, Emily Cottis, ELA teacher Julie Esch and WJHS Principal Chris Chessie.

Caption: At the entrance to WJHS are (left to right) Deb Coady, Wesley Moody, Emily Cottis, Kayla Looper, ELA teacher Julie Esch and WJHS Principal Chris Chessie.