Local VFW Post 5578 recently recognized Samantha Garretson, Sabrina Stewart and Uriah Bunner as the local winners of the Patriot's Pen contest.

Patriot’s Pen is a youth-essay writing contest endorsed by the National Association of Secondary School Principals.

It is a nationwide competition that gives middle school students in grades 6,7 and 8 the opportunity to write essays expressing their views on democracy.

According to the National VWF, more than 115,000 students participate annually in the contest.

Contestants are required to write a 300 to 400-word essay based on an annual patriotic theme.

This year’s theme was why America’s veterans should be honored.

The state’s first-place winner receives a $10,000 savings bond and an all-expense-paid trip to Washington D.C.

The top national winners each receive a savings bond ranging from $1,000 to $10,000, depending on where the contestant places.

Patriot’s Pen is an annual scholarship contest that typically deadlines in November. For more information about this, or other scholarship programs, contact the local VFW Post 5578 at 304-752-0655.