Olivia Olson, center, celebrates her third-place honors in the state-level VFW Voice of Democracy Audio Essay contest, with her parents, Greg and Vivian. (Contributed photo)

Olivia Olson, center, celebrates her third-place honors in the state-level VFW Voice of Democracy Audio Essay contest, with her parents, Greg and Vivian. (Contributed photo)

Edmonds teen places third in state VFW essay contest

The Washington State Veterans of Foreign Wars on Jan. 21 awarded third-place honors to Edmonds-Woodway High School junior Olivia Olson in its VFW Voice of Democracy Audio Essay Contest. Olson’s essay addressed this year’s theme, “My Responsibility to America.”

Olson earlier won first place in the competition from VFW Post 8870 of Edmonds and then at the District 1 level. At school, she competes in tennis and cross country and enjoys Debate Club.

Other VFW District 1 winners included Chain Lake Elementary student Natalie Payne, from Post 7511, (Youth Essay, third grade); Eryn Chestine, Fryelands Elementary, Post 7511 (Youth Essay, fourth grade); Dillon Olson, Cathcart Elementary, Post 921 (Youth Essay, fifth grade); and Akila Rajan, Gateway Middle, Auxiliary 2100 (Patriot’s Pen).

Second- and third-place honors for the Youth Essay and Patriot’s Pen contests went to Louisa David, Seattle Hill Elementary, Post 2100; Finley Gonzales, Endeavor Elementary, Post 8870; Margaret Moon, Mukilteo Elementary, Post 8870; Mohuwa Wahid, Explorer Middle, Post 8870; Andy Cook, Gold Bar Elementary, Auxiliary 9417; Amelia Brumley, Cathcart Elementary, Post 921; Trevor Magruder, Sultan Elementary, Auxiliary 2554; Emma Bastian, Gateway Middle, Auxiliary 2100; and Emily Johnson, Sultan Middle, Auxiliary 2554.

In the Voice of Democracy Audio Essay Contest, the District 1 runners-up were Ankitha Doddanari, Bothell High School, Post 1040, and Jack Curnutt, Glacier Peak High School, Post 2100.

The annual District 1 contest was open to students from Snohomish, Lynnwood, Arlington, Everett, Sultan, Monroe, Edmonds and Gold Bar.

To submit items for School Winners, email newstips@heraldnet.com.

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