The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8971 and Ladies Auxiliary each year host and sponsor an Americanism essay contest for Eunice students.
Students from all Eunice elementary, junior high and high schools enter and participate in the contest.
First, second and third place winners are awarded for their creativity and originality of the essays and drawings. They receive certificates, cash prizes and trophies.
Normally and annually the VFW Post 8971 and Auxiliary holds an awards ceremony in March or April inside the post hall. This year’s annual Americanism Awards ceremony was cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.
The VFW Post 8971 and Auxiliary, however, held a drive-thru awards presentation from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. on April 10.
Students were able to receive winning certificates, trophies and cash prizes through this means.
Students winning first place received $50, second place $35 and third place winners received $25. District winners won $100.
The commander of the VFW Post 8971 is Don Reber. Gene Olivier serves as District 7 post commander.
The Auxiliary president is Faye Reed and Bernita Briscoe is the Auxiliary treasurer and chairperson of Americanism and Voice of Democracy.
The following is a list of all winners with respective schools.
Category 1, kindergarten, Americanism:
Aurora Guidry, East Elementary, first place;
Cade Duvall, East Elementary, second place;
Leanna Mao, St. Edmund Elementary, third place.
Category 2, first and second grades: Americanism:
Kaydence Guillory, East Elementary, first place;
Sylas Brown, East Elementary, second place;
Trevyn Smith, East Elementary, third place.
Category 3, third and fourth grades: Americanism:
Jhalil Johnson, East Elementary, first place;
Jacelyn Guillory, East Elementary, second place;
Blakelynn Pierrottie, East Elementary, third place.
C at e g o r y 4 , Americansim essay, fifth grade.
Lily Vidrine, Edmund Elementary, first place;
Jackson Landry, St. Edmund, second place;
Georgia Kate Wimberly, St. Edmund, third place.
Patriot’s Pen, Grades sixth, seventh and eighth Stella Summerlin, St.
Stella Summerlin, St. Edmund, first place;
Jon Michael Brown, St. Edmund, second place;
Ava McDavid, St. Edmund, third place.
Voice of Democracy, ninth-through twelfthgrades.
Hannah Benoit, St. Edmund, first place.
Rebecca Benoit, St. Edmund, second place. District winners,
District winners, Americanism, Category 1:
Aurora Guidry, first place.
Category 2: Kaydence Guillory, first place.
Category 3: Jhalil Johnson, first place.
Category 4: Lily Vidrine, first place.
Patriot’s Pen District 7 winners: Stella Summerlin, first place.
Voice of Democracy, District 7 winners: Hannah Benoit, first place.
Jhalil Johnson took home first place at district and first place at state level.
Hannah Benoit placed first at distict and fifth place at state.
The VFW Post awarded Elementary Teachers of the Year. High School Teacher of the Year at St. Edmund High Thomas Stevens was recognized, along with Michele Newsom, Elementary Teacher of the Year at St. Edmund Elementary. Each received a cash prize and a trophy.
Troop 425 Scout of the Year Caden Schoeffler was recognized.
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