Silver Valley 'Patriots' win student contests
CAROLYN BOSTICK | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 1 week AGO
Kellogg High School student Preston Graskamp is given his award for getting first place in the Voice of Democracy contest for Idaho VFW District One by VFW Post 1675 Commander Chris Marker.
Graskamp also finished second at the district level.
Courtesy photo
Patriot's Pen winner Lilly Mae Tyron attends Mullan Middle School and finished first at the district level. Also pictured: VFW Post 1675 Commander Chris Marker and Mullan High School Principal Jacki Almquist.
Kellogg Middle School student Paige Hill won the Patriot's Pen contest and was presented her award by VFW Post 1675 Commander Chris Marker.
VFW Post 1675 Commander Chris Marker awards Jeff Smith of Kellogg High School the Teacher of the Year recognition.
Cambria Wilson won second place in the Voices of Democracy contest and was presented the award by VFW Post 1675 Commander Chris Marker and Mullan High School Principal Jacki Almquist.
VFW Post 1675 Commander Chris Marker gives Kellogg High School student Jonithyn Knight his third place recognition for the Voices of Democracy contest.
Kellogg High School students Eavin Knight and Alexis Backman receive their awards for fourth place in the Voice of Democracy contest from VFW Post 1675 Commander Chris Marker.
Carolyn Bostick has worked for the Coeur d’Alene Press since June 2023. She covers Shoshone County and Coeur d'Alene. Carolyn previously worked in Utica, New York at the Observer-Dispatch for almost seven years before briefly working at The Inquirer and Mirror in Nantucket, Massachusetts. Since she moved to the Pacific Northwest from upstate New York in 2021, she's performed with the Spokane Shakespeare Society for three summers. | January 16, 2026 1:00 AM
Each year, thousands of students tap into their patriotism through written and audio essays sponsored by the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
VFW Post 1675 Commander Chris Marker said the patriotic essays from students are something the VFW looks forward to each year to recognize the hard work local students put into expressing their vision for America.
Marker said of the local winners, middle schooler Lilly Mae Tyron came in first for the Patriots Pen contest and high schooler Preston Graskamp placed first in the Voice of Democracy contest. Tyron is from the Mullan School District. Graskamp is from Kellogg High School.
“She did an excellent job,” Marker said of Lilly’s essay. “She also was first in the district, she impressed them.”
This year’s theme for both contests was “How are you showing patriotism and support for our country?”
Marker noted that Preston’s participation in JROTC made his audio essay easier because the JROTC often volunteers extensively in the community for patriotic and community-forward events.
Kellogg High School teacher Jeff Smith was also honored for his work with students.
The Patriots Pen youth essay competition, established by the VFW in 1995, asked middle school students to examine America’s history, express their understanding of democracy and hone their writing skills.
Awards and prizes are available for both contests.
The Voice of Democracy is a worldwide audio-essay competition for high schoolers, started by the National Association of Broadcasters in 1947. The VFW became a national sponsor in the late 1950s and took over the contest.
Patriots Pen winners:
First Place: Lilly Mae Tyron Mullan Middle School. She also finished first at the district level.
Second Place: Paige Hill of Kellogg Middle School.
Third Place: Tie Kynlee and Kymber Mann, Kellogg Middle School.
Voice of Democracy winner:
First Place: Preston Graskamp of Kellogg High School. He also finished second at the district level.
Second Place: Cambria Wilson of Mullan High School.
Third Place: Jonithyn Knight of Kellogg High School.
Fourth Place: Eavin Knight and Alexis Backman, both of Kellogg High School.
Teacher of the Year:
Jeff Smith of Kellogg High School.
Idaho VFW District One covers Boundary, Bonner, Kootenai, and Shoshone counties, with eight active Posts: Bonners Ferry, Clark Fork, Sandpoint, Priest River, Spirit Lake, Post Falls, Coeur d’Alene, and Osburn.
Patriot's Pen winner Lilly Mae Tyron attends Mullan Middle School and finished first at the district level. Also pictured: VFW Post 1675 Commander Chris Marker and Mullan High School Principal Jacki Almquist.
Kellogg Middle School student Paige Hill won the Patriot's Pen contest and was presented her award by VFW Post 1675 Commander Chris Marker.
VFW Post 1675 Commander Chris Marker awards Jeff Smith of Kellogg High School a Teacher of the Year recognition.
Cambria Wilson won second place in the Voice of Democracy contest and was presented the award by VFW Post 1675 Commander Chris Marker and Mullan High School Principal Jacki Almquist.
VFW Post 1675 Commander Chris Marker gives Kellogg High School student Jonithyn Knight his third-place recognition for the Voice of Democracy contest.
Kellogg High School students Eavin Knight and Alexis Backman receive their awards for fourth place in the Voice of Democracy contest from VFW Post 1675 Commander Chris Marker.ARTICLES BY CAROLYN BOSTICK
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Silver Valley 'Patriots' win student contests
Each year, thousands of students tap into their patriotic feelings through patriotic written and audio essays through the Veterans of Foreign Wars.