During an assembly at the Knoxville Middle School Friday, members of the Knoxville VFW Post 3519 took time to honor Teacher Carla Bauer as she was selected as the Teacher of the Year by the Knoxville VFW. Also recognized during the assembly was Middle School Student Kyl Bauer as winner of the Knoxville VFW’s Patriot Pen essay competition for his essay about What Makes America Great. 

Also recognized Friday were three students at Knoxville High School as winners of the post’s Voice of Democracy scholarship. Brianna Laird took first place with Maddilyn Graves earning second place and Gracie Collins earning third. Established in 1947, the Voice of Democracy audio-essay program provides high school students with the opportunity to express themselves in regards to a democratic and patriotic-themed recorded essay. Each year, nearly 40,000 9-12 grade students from across the country enter to win their share of $2.1 million in educational scholarships and incentives awarded through the program. The national first-place winner receives a $30,000 scholarship paid directly to the recipient’s American university, college or vocational/technical school.