Rick Baldwin, / Rex Faubion / Richard A. Ruiz
Branch 38 Chair / NWR Chair / National Chair
(rpbaldwin55@gmail.com) / (rexfaubion@yahoo.com) / (pctplastic@gmail.com)
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2025-2026 National Essay Contest Theme:
“America at 250: What Does It Mean to Me?”
Essay Contest Poster
Essay Cover Sheet
Essay Rules
Branch 38 Winners
Grades 7, 8, and 10 had no entries this year
Grade 9 1st Place Rebekah Sehi FPO AE 09834 Home Schooled (Sponsor is from Nine Mile Falls, WA)
Grade 11 1st Place Aeona Mahalingashetty Sammamish, WA
Eastlake High School
Grade 12 1st Place Roy D. Jones Pendleton, OR – Baker Charter Schools
All first-place winner’s essay was sent to the Northwest Region AP Chair for evaluation at that level.
Americanism Essay Contest
Northwest Region 2025-2026 Winners
12th Grade:
1st Joshua Thao Branch 103 Yokosuka, Japan
2nd Roy D. Jones Branch 038 Inland Empire Branch, Spokane, WA
3rd Kyle Jackson Baker Branch 097 Whidbey Island, Oak Harbor WA
11th Grade:
1st – Charlotte Shin Choe Branch 103 Yokosuka, Japan
2nd – Olivia Otto Branch 097 Whidbey Island Branch, Oak Harbor, WA
3rd – Aeona Mahalingashetty Branch 038, Spokane, WA
10th Grade:
1st – Leila Stewart Branch 055 City of Roses Branch, Portland, OR
2nd – Garth Osterberg Branch 170 Everett, WA
3rd – Berg Johnson Branch 104 Mt Rainier Branch, Puyallup, WA
9th Grade:
1st – Salem Gumm Branch 382 Gem State Branch, Nampa, ID
2nd – Rebekah Sehi Branch 038 Inland Empire Branch, Spokane, WA0
3rd – Jaden Sequeira Branch 097 Whidbey Island Branch, Oak Harbor, WA
8th Grade:
1st – Sofia Yengst Branch 382 Gem State Branch, Nampa, ID
2nd – Pella Johnson Branch 104 Mt Rainier Branch, Puyallup, WA
7th Grade:
No First Place.
2nd – Jahnavi Parris Branch 029 Bremerton, WA
3rd – Alexander Jaskiewicz Branch 055 City of Roses Branch, Portland, OR
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2024-2025 National Essay Contest Winners
Congratulations to the 2024–2025 FRA Americanism Essay Contest Winners!
2024-2025 Overall Winner
Elizabeth Mayela Mercado Branch 293 East Coast Region
Grade 7 Winners
1st place: Sophia Ortega; Branch 101, West Coast Region
2nd place: Sanvi Mokasi Branch 089 Southeast Region
3rd place: Charlotte G Doering Branch 070 Southwest Region
Grade 8 Winners
1st Place: Samdeesh Thukral Branch 089 Southeast Region
2nd Place: SaanviSri Karnakanti Branch 017 North Central Region
3rd Place: Tyler Keith Nixon Branch 115 NE/New England Region
Grade 9 Winners
1st Place: Evelin Quinonez Branch 197 West Coast Region
2nd Place: Genevieve K. Miranda Branch 070 Southwest Region
3rd Place: Natalia Torres Branch 181 East Coast Region
Grade 10 Winners
1st Place: Elizabeth Mayela Mercado Branch 293 East Coast Region
2nd Place: Johnny Vattuone Branch 070 Southwest Region
3rd Place: Allin Murphy Branch 307 South Central Region
Grade 11 Winners
1st Place: Conner Stevens Branch 101 West Coast Region
2nd Place: Kylie Anderson Branch 238 North Central Region
3rd Place: Asa Scott Branch 184 Southeast Region
Grade 12 Winners
1st Place: Samuel Bonsall Branch 029 Northwest Region
02nd Place: Emily Hite Branch 161 North Central Region
3rd Place: Isabella Philip Branch 087 NE/New England Region
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Americanism Essay Contest
Northwest Region 2024-2025 Winners
7th Grade:
1st Place Peyton Wilkins-Altmiller – Br 063
2nd Place Brylee Lutzo – Branch 038
8th Grade:
1st Place Salem Gumm – Branch 382
2nd Place Bently Strunk – Branch 063
9th Grade:
1st Place Benjamin Wu – Branch 104
2nd Place Garth Osterberg – Branch 170
10th Grade:
1st Place Bennett Olson – Branch 382
2nd Place Lane Mader – Branch 063
11th Grade:
1st Place Izaiah Vertefeuille – Branch 029
2nd Place Himeno Burley – Branch 097
3rd Place Payton McGarrah – Branch 382
12th Grade:
1st Place Samuel Bonsell – Branch 029
2nd Place Hannah Joyce Schwartz – Br 063
3rd Place Finnley Olson – Branch 382
First place winners were forwarded onto National.
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2024-2025 Americanism Essay Contest
“What Would Service To Our Country Mean To Me”
Branch 038 Winners
Grades 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 had no entries this year.
Grade 7
1st Place – Brylee Lutzo – Colbert, WA – Saint Charles Catholic School
2nd Place – John Shinnick – Spokane, WA – Saint Chasrles Catholic School
The first place winner’s essay was sent to the NW Region AP Chair for evaluation at that level.
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Greetings FRA Members,
Just a quick note abut this year’s essay contest to share with children, grandchildren, etc. The 2024-2025 topic is listed below . Any student in graded 7 – 12 could enter the contest. Home schooled included. Contest is not limited to FRA members; however, each student must be sponsored by an FRA member or a current chartered branch.
The national prize for 1st, 2nd, 3rd are $1,000, $750, $500 respectively. The grand national prize is $1,500 and is separate from the rest of the prizes. There are also regional and branch prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners.
2024-2025 FRA Americanism Essay Contest
“What Would Service to Our Country Mean To Me“
Branch 38 Winners
Grades 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 had no entries this year
Grade 7 – 1st Place – Brylee Lutzo – Colbert, WA – Saint Charles Catholic School
Grade 7 – 2nd Place – John Shinnick – Spokane, WA – Saint Charles Catholic School
The first place winner’s essay was sent to the Northwest Region AP Chair for evaluation at that level.
A-P Purpose: This Committee encourages shipmates, as well as all fellow citizens to
(1)Honor the flag of the United States of America, (2) Observe all patriotic days and anniversaries of distinguished persons and events in our nation’s history, (3) Promote the Constitution of the United States of America and to instill and foster the principles of our founding fathers to our youth, (4) Plan appropriate activities, often with participation with other veteran organizations and encourage participation in all local patriotic programs and celebrations, (5) Conduct an annual Americanism Essay Contest, in accordance with all branch, regional, and national guidelines, and (6) Honor our departed Shipmates and their families.
