St. Gilbert's Student Wins First Place in VFW Essay Contest

Saint Gilbert Catholic School is pleased to announce that seventh-grader Celia D. (last name withheld per archdiocese rules), is the state first-place winner of VFW’s 2012-2013 Patriot's Pen essay contest.

Celia, who was sponsored by VFW Post 4551 and Ladies Auxiliary in Grayslake, wrote her winning essay based on this year’s theme, "What I Would Tell America’s Founding Fathers."

The youth essay writing contest is a worldwide competition that gives students in grades 6, 7 and 8 the opportunity to write a 300-400 word theme-based essay expressing their views on democracy.

We are also pleased to announce that Jeanine Fout, a fifth grade teacher, is the district first-place winner of VFW’s 2012-2013 SMART/MAHER VFW National Citizenship Education Teacher Award for kindergarten through fifth grade.

Fout, who was sponsored by VFW Post 2486 and Ladies Auxiliary in Island Lake, was nominated for her work as a Social Studies teacher. Specifically noted was her promotion of America’s history, traditions and institutions.

Submitted by St. Gilbert Catholic School