From left: Mike Beyerlin, District 13 scholarship chair, Lexie Smith and Will Parrish, district commander at VFW Districts on Dec. 14. Photo provided?Bob Beck
Creswell Middle School student Lexie Smith received the first-place award for the Patriot’s Pen essay contest by local VFW District 13 on Dec. 14. District 13 contains eight posts in the southern Willamette Valley; of the nine awards presented this year for the Student and Teacher of the Year programs, four were awarded to Creswell VFW Post candidates, said Bob Beck, Creswell VFW Post scholarship chair.
Lexie Smith received the first-place award for Patriot’s Pen and Shrista Morris of Pleasant Hill High School won third place in the Voice of Democracy Program.
Creswell Middle School teacher Kendra Anderson and Pleasant Hill Elementary School teacher Heather Sprague won the District Teacher of the Year awards for their categories.
Lexie’s scholarship portfolio, as well as those of the two teachers, will now go on to judging at the VFW Department of Oregon. State winners will receive their awards at the Department conference on Feb. 1, 2020.