Olivia Olson won first place in the Veterans of Foreign Wars District 1 Voices of Democracy audio essay contest for 2016.

Olivia Olson won first place in the Veterans of Foreign Wars District 1 Voices of Democracy audio essay contest for 2016.

School winners

VFW honors essay winners

At the annual Youth Essay, Patriot’s Pen and Voice of Democracy awards ceremony, the Veterans of Foreign Wars District 1 presented certificates and monetary awards to first-, second- and third-place winners.

In fourth grade, first-place winner Kegan Aamold, from Sultan Elementary School, also went on to win first place at the state level.

Elementary age students wrote about “Why America is My Favorite Country.” First-place winners also included Brady Proctor-Long (third grade) and Samuel Doney (fifth grade). Second-place winners were Autumn Adams, Hailey Slemmons, Hannah Brotherton. Third-place winners were Quinn Wood, Kiana Kypreos, Chloe Lee.

Middle-schoolers wrote on “What Freedom Means to Me.” First place in the Patriot’s Pen competition went to Jacob Sawyer. Second place went to Leah Anderson and third place to Chase Cumming.

The high school Voice of Democracy contest was on “My Vision for America.” The first-place winner was Olivia Olson. Runners-up were Madison Habersetzer and Alexander Peterson.

Students come from schools in Snohomish, Lynnwood, Arlington, Everett, Sultan, Monroe, Edmonds and Gold Bar.

Kiwanis Students of the Quarter

The Kiwanis Club of Snohomish congratulates its Snohomish School District Students of the Quarter.

Valley View Middle School: Benjamin Glover, Mia Tukey

Centennial Middle School: Humoody Smith, Shawn Buretta

AIM High School: Bryan Peckham, Sydnei Hendrickson

Glacier Peak High School: Brendan Behunin, Timothy Mandzyuk, Allison Curtis, Carolyn Yip

Snohomish High School: Kami McDaniel, Sam Beeman, Dustin Slaybaugh, Jack House

WSU Regents Scholars

The Washington State University Regents Scholars Program recently named its scholarship winners for 2016-17. The following local high school seniors were named Regents Scholars and will each receive four-year scholarships for $4,000 each year.

Archbishop Thomas J. Murphy High School: Dylan Daviscourt

Bothell High School: Liam O’Rourke, Andrew Staten

Cascade High School: Brendan Kendrick, Cassidy McGhehey

Edmonds/Woodway High School: Savannah Norton

Everett High School: Bryn Wells-Edwards

Glacier Peak High School: Micah Flood, Kate Bradley

Granite Falls High School: Jeremy Miller, Makenna Todd

Henry M Jackson High School: Benjamin Drajeske, Anika McManamen

Kamiak High School: Alan Lam

Lake Stevens High School: Shaelyn Huot

Lakewood High School: Erin Espeland

Marysville Pathways of Choice High School: Claire Dobler, Amanda Kalab

Meadowdale High School: Catherine Pham

Monroe High School: Cody Harris, Peter Miyoshi

Oak Harbor High School: Carly Hall, Michael Uttmark

Shorewood High School: Skylar Petrichko

Snohomish High School: Bailey Green, Conner Snow

Stanwood High School: Chris Mandella

EdCC-led group back from cultural exchange

The Northwest Community College Initiative took its students on an inaugural trip to the District of Columbia on Jan. 8. It was the first time that all Community College Initiative participants from across the country came together in one place.

The NWCCI program — established in 2009 — is part of the CCI and is a scholarship program funded by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. In Washington, Edmonds Community College leads NWCCI efforts, which also include Pierce College and Whatcom Community College.

The 56 program participants from 12 countries spent five days enhancing their knowledge of U.S. history, politics and culture — all part of the program’s vision for promoting mutual understanding between the United States and other countries.

Learn more at www.northwest cci.com.

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