Veterans essay contest winners named

Washougal — Veterans of Foreign Wars members traveled to various schools recently to name winners of their annual essay contest.

In the State Junior Essay competition, Cape Horn-Skye Elementary School fifth-grader Nolan Johnson and fourth-grader Keagan Payne were honored.

From Gause Elementary School, Anna Chaffee won first place for fourth grade and fifth-grader Emelia Warta received an honorable mention, while Madison Dodge took home top honors for third-graders, followed by Aidan Hasselbush and Brooklyn Lowe.

In the Patriot Pen Essay contest at Canyon Creek Middle School, Thomas Hein, in eighth grade, and sixth-grader Simone Velansky both scored second-place finishes.

The seventh grade honorees were Bryce M. Holmes with a third place finish and Charlotte Baker, who was awarded an honorable mention.

At Washougal High School, senior Taylor Brown won first place and $500 in the Voice of Democracy competition. Senior Aisha Marcos came in fourth, and earned $100, while Courtney Shelley, Christian Mishler and Mitchell Leon earned honorable mentions.