The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States Department
of California District 15 Student Scholarship and Community Awards Judging took
place Saturday morning, December 3, 2022 at the Veterans Memorial Hall in Chico.
Seven judges from the local community judged four Voice of
Democracy (VOD) scholarship entries, 10 Patriot’s Pen (PP) scholarship entries,
four Teacher of the Year (ToY) Entries and four Law Enforcement of the Year (LE)
entries.
District 15 Posts had 14 VOD participants from four Posts,
127 PP entries from five separate Posts, for ToY entries from three Posts, and
four LE entries from four Post advance for higher recognition. More than $5,700 in monetary awards has or
will be awarded to 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners
in the scholarship programs. Another $675 will be awarded to Teacher’s at local
schools and $800 to first responders.
About our judges:
Tony Munroe was from the local Ace Hardware. Ace
Hardware is a Foundation Partner with the VFW.
Linda Watkins-Bennett is a local news media icon from
Action News Now.
Shirley Huffman is a Physician’s Assistant at a local
medical practice here in Chico.
George Zepeda is the Store Director at our local Save
Mart.
Jeff Wagner is a Physical Therapist and owner of Valponi
and Wagner Physical Therapy.
Hunter Hampton, former General Manager of the Chico Heat
collegiate baseball team, and local real estate agent
Bob Kurts is also a Physician’s Assistant.
Save Mart and The Donut Nook provided refreshments for the
Judges and Veterans.
District 15 proudly announces the winners of our
competition. The 2022-2023 District Winners are: (First place finishers advance
to Department)
Voice of Democracy:
1st - Gannon R. Blake, Marysville Post 948
2nd - Janae E. Fleshman, Gridley Post 5731
3rd - Chloe Alchin, Chico Post 1555
Patriots Pen:
1st - Ileana Arivett, Oroville Post 1747
2nd - Delaney Ruth Doolittle, Chico Post 1555
3rd - Lila J. Wheeler, Gridley Post 5731
Teacher of the Year:
Sandy Granicher, Chico Post 1555
Law Enforcement of the Year:
Michael Aguilar, Gridley Post 5731
Fire Fighter of the Year:
Derrick Logan Ash, Colusa Post 2441
Congratulations again to all the winners.
Respectfully,
Mike DiGiordano
District 15 Commander