Clark Fork Jr./Sr. High School recently took part in the Patriot Pen and Voice of Democracy essay contests put on by the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

In the Patriot Pen contest, open to middle school students, first place was won by Zyler Ballard, seventh grade; second place by Hannah Thompson, seventh grade; and third place, Tucker Verzier, seventh grade.

The Voice of Democracy contest, open to high school students, was won by CFHS junior Bryce Beason.

Beason’s essay also won the district level and was sent to the state. The teen and his family recently traveled to Boise for Saturday’s VFW state banquet, where his essay went up against six other districts from Idaho for a chance to be sent on to the national level.