Anna Martin, Chair
(ratsaronii@comcast.net)
Greetings FRA Members,
Just a quick note abut this year’s essay contest to share with children, grandchildren, etc. The 2022-2023 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.
Beginning with this year’s contest 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.
2022-2023 FRA Americanism Essay Contest
“What the United States Flag Stands For”
Northwest Region Winners
Grade 7:
1st Place – Benjamin Wu – Mt Rainier Branch 104, Puyallup, WA
2nd Place – Orin Campbell – Lewis & Clark Branch 063, Lewiston, ID
Grade 8:
1st Place – Haylee Armstrong – Whidbey Island Branch 097, Oak Harbor, WA
2nd Place – Gavin Clifford – Lewis & Clark Branch 063, Lewiston, ID
3rd Place – Jude Wallace – City of Roses Branch 055, Portland, OR
Grade 9:
1st Place – Mary Crosby – Gem State Branch 382, Nampa, ID
Grade 10:
1st Place – Marton Mezei – Inland Empire Branch 038, Spokane, WA
2nd Place – Sean Cammack – Mt Rainier Branch 104, Puyallup, WA
3rd Place – Sara Beg – City of Roses Branch 055, Portland, OR
11th Grade:
1st Place – Parker Smith – Inland Empire Branch 038, Spokane, WA
2nd Place – Olivia Johnson – Lewis & Clark Branch 063, Lewiston, ID
3rd Place – Garrett J. Nye – Gem State Branch 382, Nampa, ID
12th Grade:
1st Place – Charlotte Wallace – City of Roses Branch 055, Portland, OR
2nd Place – Abigail Arbuckle – Gem State Branch 382, Nampa, ID
3rd Place – Maru Schwartz – Lewis & Clark Branch, Lewiston, ID
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Branch 38 Winners
Grades 7, 8, 9, and 12 had no entries this year
Grade 10 – 1st Place – Marton Mezei – Spokane, WA – Lewis & Clark High School
Grade 11 – 1st Place – Parker Smith – West Richland, WA – Hanford High School
The first place winners’ essays were sent to the Northwest Region AP Chair for evaluation at that level.
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2021-2022 FRA Americanism Essay Contest
National Winners
Best Overall; Lauren Mathews 1st Place Branch 316 North Central
Grade 7
Zachary Krivis 1st Place Branch 17 North Central
Katelyn “Camille” Avery 2nd Place Branch 89 Southeast
Bradyn Bowers 3rd Place Branch 274 West Coast
Grade 8
Sonia Veldhuis 1st Place Branch 13 Northeast/New England
Ethan Copeland 2nd Place Branch 293 East Coast
Silas Stephens 3rd Place Branch 364 North Central
Grade 9
Lauren Mathews 1st Place Branch 316 North Central Best Overall
Gabrielle Miranda 2nd Place Branch 70 Southwest
Lilly Winslow 3rd Place Branch 293 East Coast
Grade 10
David Allen 1st Place Branch 32 North Central
Seth Guzman 2nd Place Branch 294 Southeast
Bayleigh S. Guidry 3rd Place Branch 251 South Central
Grade 11
Malik Bossert-Haverland 1st Place Branch 293 East Coast
Zachary Miranda 2nd Place Branch 70 Southwest
Natalie Nicole Fibelkorn 3rd Place Branch 44 Southeast
Grade 12
J. D. Bowman 1st Place Branch 185 West Coast
Jacob Agresta 2nd Place Branch 55 Northwest
Callie Johnston 3rd Place Branch 294 Southeast
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2021-2022 National FRA Americanism Essay Contest
NW Region Winners
Grade Seven:
1st Place – Ashlyn Quintana – Lakewood, WA – Home school – Branch 104
2nd Place – Riley Jade White – Coupeville, WA – Coupeville Middle School – Branch 097
3rd Place – Heidi Crowder – Pocatello, ID – Legacy Christian School – Branch 382
Grade Eight:
2nd Place – Opal Johnson – Lakewood, WA – Home School – Branch 104
3rd Place – Mary Crosby – Burlington, WA – Home School – Branch 382
Grade Nine:
1st Place – Abby Yeske – Helena, MT – Capital High School – Branch 382
2nd Place – Jasper Johnson – Lakewood, WA – Home School – Branch 104
3rd Place – Brooklyn Thayer – Oak Harbor, WA – Coupeville High School – Branch 097
Grade Ten:
1st Place – Parker Smith – West Richland, WA – Hanford High School – Branch 038
2nd Place – Madelyn Clemenson – Bellingham, WA – Sehome High School – Branch 382
3rd Place – Marco Saavedra – JBLM, WA – Lakes High School – Branch 104
Grade Eleven:
1st Place – Cadence Etheridge – Meridian, ID – Virtual School House – Branch 382
2nd Place – Charlotte Wallace – Redmond, OR – Home School – Branch 055
3rd Place – Avery Clark – Tacoma, WA – Bellarmine Prep – Branch 104
Grade Twelve:
1st Place – Jacob Agresta – Troutdale, OR – Metro East Web Academy – Branch 055
2nd Place – Shay Perlot – West Richland, WA – Hanford High School – Branch 038
3rd Place – Tray Larson – Puyallup, WA – Cascade Christian High School – Branch 104
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2021-2022 Branch 38 Winners are as follows:
7th Grade – No entrants
8th Grade – No entrants
9th Grade – No entrants
10th Grade
First Place Parker Smith Hanford High School, Richland, WA
11th Grade
First Place Rose Stewart Kendrick Jr/Sr High School, Kendrick, ID
12th Grade
First Place Shay Perlot Hanford High School, Richland, WA
Second Place Sydney Smith Hanford High School, Richland, WA
The first place winners’ essays were 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.
