Hunter Sanchez, a seventh-grader at Mesa Academy for Advanced Studies, will represent Arizona in the Patriot's Pen, a national youth-essay writing contest sponsored by the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the VFW Ladies Auxiliary, after winning first-place at the district and state levels.
"We congratulate Hunter, his parents and his teacher for this honor as well as the Mesa Academy for Advanced Studies for the many exceptional essays we receive from this school each year," Doris Creaser of the VFW Women's Auxiliary Post #12006, said in a news release.
The Patriot's Pen gives students in sixth- through eighth grades the chance to write essays on their views of patriotism with the prospect of winning U.S. savings bonds. Approximately 115,000 students nationwide enter this contest each year. Monetary awards are given at each level with the national level awarding 46 savings bonds ranging from $10,000 for the first place winner down to $l,000 for the 16th-46th place winners. This year's topic: "Are you proud of your country?"
Good luck, Hunter!
