Two local eighth graders entered into the Patriots Pen program and won scholarship money for writing what it means to them to live in the United States.
Eighth graders Maura Skelley and Andrea Scott were entered into the Patriot Pen program along with the rest of Andrew Danish’s Renzulli class. The Patriot Pen Program is a contest among sixth, seventh and eighth graders across the nation. They were to explain in an essay what living in the United States means to them. The contest is open to every sixth, seventh and eighth graders enrolled in public, private parochial high school or home study programs.
The prizes were based on placement:
1st- $5000
2nd- $4000
3rd- $3500
4th- $2750
5th- $2500
6th-$2000
7th- $1750
8th & 9th- $1500
10th & 11th- $1250
12th & 13th- $1000
14th & 15th- $750
16th – 46th – $500
The contest consists of 4 levels: entry , regional, state and national. It is sponsored by Veterans of Foreign Wars(VFW). The winner’s of the contest receive a certain amount of money dependent on where they were placed. Skelley came in first place locally and then again at state level. Scott came in third place locally.
Working Students! Two students, Maura Skelley and Andrea Scott, with their teacher Andrew Danish in American Culture. These were the winners of the writing contest he entered them in. Photo by Jacob Hord
