(Avoca, IA) – Officials with the AHSTW School District have announced two district students were in Des Moines this past weekend for VFW essay/writing competitions. Maya Todd was a top 3 finalist in the State for the VFW Voice of Democracy audio essay scholarship contest. She came away with a 1st Place award in the State for category of competition.

Addison Schmidt also won the State Championship for the Patriots Pen. Both young ladies are moving on to the national competition at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, to represent Iowa in the National Youth Leadership Symposium. Judging will take place for Nationals in the next couple of months.