JACKMAN  — Jaxson Desjardins, an eighth-grade student, and Carroll Frigon, a 10th grader, were both recognized at a recent Assembly at Forest Hills School.

Students in grades six to 12 were invited to participate in an essay writing contest. For the Patriot’s Pen contest (grades six to eight), this year’s theme was “How Are You Inspired by America?”

For the Voice of Democracy contest (grades nine to 12), students had to prepare and present on the theme for this year, “What Are the Greatest Attributes of Our Democracy?”

Both are national contests conducted annually by the Veterans for Foreign Wars. Locally, the William B. Doughty Auxiliary No. 5723 of Jackman sponsors the contest and awards the winners a monetary prize.

Desjardins, of Jackman, was selected as the middle school winner out of 12 participants, and Frigon, of Moose River, was chosen as the high school winner out of 13 participants.

Both submissions will be sent along to the district level to be judged against all the other first-place winners in District 5 (which includes Dexter, Jackman, Fairfield, Farmington, Madison and Newport).

If successful, the entry then advances to be judged at the state (and possibly national) level. Grand prizes include scholarships and trips to Washington, D.C. National winners are announced in March.

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