Two Fuqua School students were recently honored in Amelia Court House by the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) for success in Patriot’s Pen and Voice of Democracy, the VFW’s annual nationwide scholarship competitions. 

The top entries for the Thomas Hardy Graham Post 7059 in Farmville were Audra Murphy in the Patriot’s Pen and Thomas Watson in the Voice of Democracy.  Both students were recognized for winning at the post level; Murphy went on to win first place at the district level and was eligible to compete at the state level. 

“It was exciting to have my essay win at both levels.  I’m proud to represent my school and to be able to share my views on patriotism,” Murphy said.   

Patriot’s Pen is an essay competition directed toward students in grades six through eight; this year’s theme was “What Freedom Means to Me.” Students in grades nine through 12 are eligible to compete in Voice of Democracy, an audio-essay scholarship whose theme this year was “My Vision for America.”