Auxiliary Treasurer Samantha Kwit (from left), 1st Vice President Suzanne Stocking Coclanes, Colette Frantz, and Secretary Doreen O'Brien.
LT sophomore wins American Legion essay contest
By Carol McGowan
Each year, the American Legion Auxiliary sponsors an Americanism essay contest. The purpose is to aid the schools of Illinois in the teaching of Americanism and good citizenship.
The winner this year, at the Robert E. Coulter Jr. American Legion in LaGrange, was Colette Frantz. She is a sophomore at Lyons Township High School in LaGrange.
The American Legion Department of Illinois provides the units with the essay subject. In addition to the subject, the Auxiliary also provides guidelines to the units for reading and judging the essays. Students are judged on creativity, presentation, organization of the subject matter and grammar.
After the units are provided with the subject the units then send letters to the local schools asking for their participation in the contest. The Robert E. Coulter Jr. Unit 1941 invited 15 schools to participate in the essay writing contest.
The contest provides an avenue for students to refine their critical thinking and writing skills while providing an opportunity for open discussion of current events. Students from grades 7 through 12 are eligible to participate in the American essay contest.
First-place winners move on from the Auxiliary Units to the District level for additional judging. After the District level, first place essays are then passed to Division level judges. In the event the Division level judges the essay favorably, the student’s essay is passed on to the State level where the student can receive additional awards.
Colette’s parents, Alyce and Mark Frantz, attended the meeting with her, as she received her certificate and award.
Colette Frantz holds her Americanism essay award on May 11. (Supplied photos)
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