A number of young writers recently won scholarships from the Veterans of Foreign Wars for their penmanship skills in two separate but related contests put on by Marion VFW Post 6958 and its Ladies Auxiliary.

Out of 59 Marion Middle School students, who wrote and submitted essays for this year’s topic, “Why do we need to appreciate veterans,” eighth graders Noah Kukuk took first, Chloe Taylor placed second, and Jenna Helmer was third. They will receive scholarships from the Ladies Auxiliary.

In the seventh grade, Kennedy Fahey took first, Aubrey Craig was second, and Maggie Vinduska placed third. Post 6958 will furnish their awards.

First-place winners will be presented certificates and $100 cash, second-place contestants will receive $75, and third-place contestants each get $50.

In the Voice of Democracy oral essay scholarship competition, the theme for Marion High School students was “Why veterans are important to our nation’s history and future.”

VFW Post 6958 and its auxiliary both sponsored oral essay winners.

Out of 13 participating students, Taylor May and Shonda Ratzloff each took first, Cade Harms and Nathan Baldwin placed second, and Jimi Dornbush and Tyler Arocha placed third.

May, Harms, and Dornbush will receive scholarships from the Ladies Auxiliary, and Ratzloff, Baldwin, and Arocha will get theirs from Post 6958.

Each first place winner also will be asked to read their essay during an award ceremony 2 p.m. Sunday at Marion VFW Post 6958, 420 West Santa Fe St.