The American Legion Auxiliary Unit 314 hosted a dinner last week for a few young local writers who won the American Legion’s essay contest.

The essay contest included students in grades 3 through 12 as well as special needs students with modified essay guidelines in the Lehighton Area School district.

This contest was a voluntary entry contest that students worked on during the late winter and early spring of the previous school year.

The students were notified by mail of their winning entries in April.

The dinner, rescheduled from several months ago, also acknowledged the American Legion’s “Miss Poppy.” Everyone was glad to finally be able to have the event take place.

Winners received certificates and monetary awards.

The topic of the essay was Americanism and it was titled: “How can we address the health and well-being of our veterans, military and their families?”

Judges considered the following while choosing the winning essay: subject matter content, originality, neatness, spelling and English usage.

Three students’ winning essays were chosen. The three winners were all from separate age groups:

• Lehighton Area Middle Schooler Ashton Wentz was the 5th and 6th grade essay winner and received awards from the Shoemaker Haydt Lehighton American Legion Unit 314 Auxiliary as well as the Four County Council which includes Carbon, Lehigh, Northampton and Monroe counties. His essay was also chosen for Pennsylvania and was forwarded to Nationals for further judging.

His parents are Deanna and Chris Wentz. Unfortunately, Ashton was not able to attend the dinner event, however, he was recognized by American Legion’s members for his thoughtful work.

• Kristopher Rodgers Jr. wrote his essay was chosen for grades 3 and 4 at Lehighton Area Elementary school.

Kristopher, 10, was the recipient of two $25 awards; one of them was awarded by the Shoemaker Haydt Lehighton American Legion Unit 314 Auxiliary; the second was generously awarded by the Four County Council, which includes Carbon, Lehigh, Northampton and Monroe counties.

His parents are Megan and Kristopher Rodgers.

• Caden Kresge, 14, soon entering his freshman year at Lehighton Area High School, was essay contest winner for the Lehighton Middle School 8th grade. Caden received a $25 check from the Shoemaker Haydt Lehighton American Legion Unit 314 Auxiliary. He is the son of April and Cale Kresge.

• Kira Gruber was awarded Shoemaker Haydt Lehighton American Legion Unit 314 Auxiliary’s “Miss Poppy.”

Kira is 13 years old and attends Lehighton Area Middle School. She is the daughter of Wendy Bell and Jeffrey Gruber.