VFW post recognizes youth

Braden River Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 12055 has been busy doling out awards to East County students.

This month, the post awarded student winners of its Patriots Pen Essay writing contest — Haile Middle School’s Anthony Salerno, Clinton Engelberger and Simone Liang — with plaques April 9. Each student won $100. Student Meghan McConnaghy won but was not present at the ceremony.

The annual contest encourages students to write a patriotic essay about what freedom means to them.

Then, in two separate ceremonies in April, VFW members presented awards to Lakewood Ranch JROTC cadets and Braden River High School cadets.

At Lakewood Ranch, the post awarded the $1,000 George Cumming Memorial Scholarship to Cadets Connor Russell and Mallori Cesario. 

It also awarded medals to Cadets Derrick Hadley and Daniella Wilhelm. 

At Braden River, the post awarded the Leo Perisian Scholarship to Cadets Alexis Yawn and Ben Martin. Each received a $1,000 check for continued education. 

Cadets Playton Blanton, Wendy Rios, Ryan Calhoun, Chris Cooper and Gabriella Stockton were awarded $100 each for their essays for the Voice of Democracy program. 

Post 12055 also named JROTC instructor Command Sgt. Maj. Alexander Figueroa as the post’s Teacher of the Year.