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Essay winners awarded by Kiwanians





High School Essay Winners from the left, Trace Thompson, grand winner and most inspiring, Kenwood; Gianna Lupo, West Creek; Morgan Beuscher, Rossview; Lily Shau, Northwest; Laila Judon, Northeast; Matthew Daughtry, Montgomery Central; Hunter Hayes, Middle College; Ethan Rolfe, Ft. Campbell; Caroline Marley, Virtual School; Madeline Allen, also most heroic, Clarksville High.SUBMITTED

High School Essay Winners from the left, Trace Thompson, grand winner and most inspiring, Kenwood; Gianna Lupo, West Creek; Morgan Beuscher, Rossview; Lily Shau, Northwest; Laila Judon, Northeast; Matthew Daughtry, Montgomery Central; Hunter Hayes, Middle College; Ethan Rolfe, Ft. Campbell; Caroline Marley, Virtual School; Madeline Allen, also most heroic, Clarksville High.SUBMITTED

The Kiwanis Club of Clarksville has awarded all of its annual Essay Contest winners. There were 4,000 students from Montgomery County and Ft. Campbell who interviewed veterans or active military and wrote essays.

The Kiwanis Essay Awards Luncheon, held on Tuesday, Nov. 8, featured the best 21 students reading part of their essays and receiving awards.

More than 120 parents, teachers, veterans and Kiwanians applauded the students who described their better understanding of the high cost of our freedoms that most of us take for granted.

The Grand Middle School winner is Jake Guzman, 6th grade, Rossview Middle School who interviewed his father, Juan Guzman, retired CW-2 helicopter pilot.

Jake learned “through hard work he had the opportunity to make his dreams come true.”

He ended, “I now have a deeper understanding of what I can do in my community to make it better.”

He received a plaque, cash and a flag flown over the US Capitol at the request of US Rep. Mark Green.

Middle School Essay Winners from the left, Jake Guzman, grand winner, Rossview; Kinsley Bragg- also most heroic, West Creek; Genesis Mitchell, Rossview-most inspiring; Jackson Harvison, Richview; Danaejah Adkinson, Northeast; McKaila Neff, New Providence; Emerson Lavigne, Montgomery Central; Alexis Miller, Mahaffey; Morgan Spyers, Kenwood; Kalei Walker, Virtual School; Anna Marie Adams, Clarksville Academy.SUBMITTED

Middle School Essay Winners from the left, Jake Guzman, grand winner, Rossview; Kinsley Bragg- also most heroic, West Creek; Genesis Mitchell, Rossview-most inspiring; Jackson Harvison, Richview; Danaejah Adkinson, Northeast; McKaila Neff, New Providence; Emerson Lavigne, Montgomery Central; Alexis Miller, Mahaffey; Morgan Spyers, Kenwood; Kalei Walker, Virtual School; Anna Marie Adams, Clarksville Academy.SUBMITTED

The Grand High School Winner is Trace Thompson, senior at Kenwood High School who interviewed Michael who enlisted after 9/11 and served as a combat medic at the Battle of Ramadi, Iraq.

He witnessed so much violence at Ramadi, that when he came home the images stayed with him. Finally, he was diagnosed with PTSD and dropped out of college.

Thompson stated, “I want to be the type of person that someone like Michael needed years ago.” He received a plaque, cash and a flag flown over the US Capitol.

The Kiwanis Essay Contest started with 230 students in the year 2000 and became more relevant with the 9/11/2001 terror attack.

Since that small beginning, more than 35,000 students have interviewed veterans or active military and written essays.

The Kiwanis Memories of Service & Sacrifice is the Essay Contest sponsor. Video of the student readings will soon be viewable at www.clarksvillekiwanis.org/veterans-essay-contest/ or the Clarksville Kiwanis Facebook page.

John Hamric, Essay Contest co-chair, presented the plaque and award money to Trace Thompson, high school grand winner.SUBMITTED

John Hamric, Essay Contest co-chair, presented the plaque and award money to Trace Thompson, high school grand winner.SUBMITTED

John Hamric, Essay Contest co-chair, presented the plaque and award money to Jake Guzman, middle school grand winner.SUBMITTED

John Hamric, Essay Contest co-chair, presented the plaque and award money to Jake Guzman, middle school grand winner.SUBMITTED

 

 

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