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By Michael P. Mauer

Three West Mifflin Area School District students and a local educator were each awarded cash scholarships from Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 914 Intrepid and advanced to the next level of competition in this year’s Voice of Democracy and Patriot’s Pen contests during the unit’s monthly meeting at the Thompson Run Athletic Association November 15.

VFW Post 914 awards scholarships

Earning the top honors for this year’s VOD competition are high school seniors Zkkrah (Ziggy) Patterson and John Gambrell. Samantha Curcio, a 7th grader from the West Mifflin Area Middle School, was awarded the top slot for the post’s Patriot’s Pen scholarship.
The three students each received a $100 award from VFW Post 914 Intrepid West Mifflin at the organization’s November meeting, as well as a VFW medal. A $100 check and a VFW medal was also presented to Melissa L. Fulmer, an English teacher at West Mifflin Area High School, for her selection as VFW Voice of Democracy Teacher of the Year.

Fulmer’s nomination will be forwarded for consideration to VFW District 29 in Pittsburgh, and if successful, to further competition at the VFW state and national levels.
Originally from Duquesne, Fulmer holds a master’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh. A graduate of West Mifflin Area High School, she earned her undergraduate degrees in teaching and English from Duquesne University and the Community College of Allegheny County.

All of the VOD candidates will move to the next bracket of competition to be held at Pittsburgh’s VFW District 29. If forwarded from there, entrants will earn a chance to compete at the VFW Department of Pennsylvania. After that, winners will then vie at the national level where the top laurels include a $30,000 scholarship.

Other VOD national scholarships range from $1,000 to $16,000, and the first place winner from each state garners a minimum scholarship of $1,000, plus an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C. Last year, approximately 40,000 high school students throughout the United States participated in the VFW’s Voice of Democracy audio essay competition.

As the Patriot’s Pen award winner, Curcio also earned the chance to advance to the next level of competition in the VFW’s youth essay contest. The top Patriot’s Pen competitors selected from each state can earn $50,000 in awards, as well as a top prize of $5,000 and an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C.

For more information about VFW Post 914 and its activities, contact Commander Bradich at: 412-464-9838.

Photo above right: Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 914 Intrepid West Mifflin Commander Jake Bradich stands with local winners of the annual Voice of Democracy and Patriot’s Pen contests. Pictured also are scholarship awardees Zkkrah (Ziggy) Patterson, John Gambrell and Samantha Curcio, as well as the post’s nominee for VFW Voice of Democracy Teacher of the Year, Melissa L. Fulmer.

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