CLARKSVILLE, TN – 4,000 Montgomery County and Fort Campbell students interviewed veterans or active-duty military and wrote essays for the 2021 Kiwanis Essay Awards.
The Kiwanis Essay Awards Luncheon this week featured the best 21 students reading part of their essays and receiving awards. Over 120 parents, teachers, veterans and Kiwanians applauded the students, who described their better understanding of the high cost of our freedoms that most of us take for granted.
The Grand Middle School winner is Jake Guzman, 6th grade, Rossview Middle School, who interviewed his father, Juan Guzman, retired CW-2 helicopter pilot. Jake learned “through hard work he had the opportunity to make his dreams come true.” He ended “I now have a deeper understanding of what I can do in my community to make it better.” He received a plaque, cash and a flag flown over the US Capitol at the request of Rep. Mark Green.
The Grand High School Winner is Trace Thompson, senior at Kenwood High School, who interviewed Michael, who enlisted after 9/11 and served as a combat medic at the Battle of Ramadi, Iraq. He witnessed so much violence at Ramadi, that when he came home the images stayed with him. Finally, he was diagnosed with PTSD and dropped out of college. Thompson stated, “I want to be the type of person that someone like Michael needed years ago.” He received a plaque, cash and a flag flown over the US Capitol.
The Kiwanis Essay Contest started with 230 students in 2000 and became more relevant with the 9/11 terror attacks. Since that small beginning, over 35,000 students have interviewed veterans or active-duty military and written essays. The Kiwanis Memories of Service & Sacrifice is the Essay Contest sponsor.
Video of the student readings will soon be viewable at www.clarksvillekiwanis.org/veterans-essay-contest/ or the Clarksville Kiwanis Facebook page.