Area students used their creativity to honor the many servicemen and women who have helped shape their lives.
The annual veteran’s poster and essay contest award winners were announced Sunday afternoon at Emporia Middle School. Awards were given to the top three students from fifth grade to high school.
The fifth-grade essay winner was Kensley Medrano from Village Elementary. The topic of her essay focused on her aunt who is currently serving in the Army.
Though her aunt is currently on deployment, Medrano’s parents were able to video chat her Sunday so she could watch her niece receive her award.
The seventh-grade poster winner was Thayne Schmidt of Olpe Junior-Senior High School. He took a moment to explain what a veteran is to him.
The guest speaker for the day’s event was U.S. Army veteran and current president of the Student Veteran’s Association Mike White. White shared with those in attendance his experiences in the armed forces and how they made him into who he is today.
White says when it comes to veterans they all have their own reasons for why the served, all of which help shape our country.
Award winners are as follows:
ESSAYS
5th Grade
1st Kensley Medrano – Village Elementary
2nd Kayla Steinke – Olpe Elementary
3rd Makena Fessler – Riverside Elementary
6th Grade
1st Landon Dody – Council Grove Elementary
2nd Jocelyn Thurow – Council Grove Elementary
3rd Adeiah Heffner – Council Grove
7th Grade
1st Achilles Gudgeon – Olpe Jr/Sr High
2nd Rowdy Orear – Olpe Jr/Sr High
3rd Sylvia Senne Olpe Jr/Sr High
8th Grade
1st Maryn True – Olpe Jr/Sr High
2nd Sydney Douglas – Emporia Middle School
3rd Lenia Crouch – Emporia Middle School
High school
1st Karly McDougald – Olpe High School
2nd Tessa Beeman – Olpe High School
3rd Lucas Blankley – Olpe High School
POSTERS
5th Grade
1st Kayla Steinke – Olpe Elementary
2nd Gavin Vogts – Olpe Elementary
3rd Angel Villalobos and Marlen Geronimo – Riverside Elementary
6th Grade
1st Audrey Velasquez – Emporia Middle School
2nd Hana Cole – Olpe Elementary
3rd Daghyn True – Emporia Middle School
7th Grade
1st Thayne Schmidt – Olpe Jr/Sr High
2nd Milly Bailey – Olpe Jr/Sr High
3rd Kadey Robert – Olpe Jr/Sr High
8th Grade
1st Karsy Young – Olpe Jr/Sr High
2nd Truman Bailey – Olpe Jr/Sr High
3rd Riley Nuessen – Olpe Jr/Sr High
High School
1st Mallory Kueser – Olpe High School
2nd Jacob Swanson – Olpe High School
3rd Wylie Redeker – Olpe High School
Photos by Tagan Trahoon and Devon Swartz/KVOE News
{gallery}AVT Essay and Poster{/gallery}
