More than 120 Manhattan students from grades 2 to 12 created artwork honoring fallen military members as part of the annual Poppy Poster Contest held by the American Legion Auxiliary Post #87.
“We would like to thank the teachers who encouraged their students to participate,” reads a statement from Post #87 this month. “We greatly appreciate your support! For their efforts, the Auxiliary will be presenting a cash award to each winner for 1st, 2nd & 3rd place. The 1st place winners from each class will be submitted to the state competition & then hopefully to the national competition.”
This year’s winners are:
Class I: Grades 2 and 3
1st – Tatem Flikkema (Manhattan Christian)2nd-Ezar Cok (Manhattan Christian)3rd – Montana Sobeck (Manhattan Christian)
Class II: Grades 4 and 5
1st Decker Flikkema (Manhattan Christian)2nd Cassie Fenno (Manhattan Elementary)& Cosette Partain (Manhattan Elementary)3rd Jack Spotts (Manhattan Elementary) & Levi DeVries (Manhattan Elementary)
Class III: Grades 6 and 7
1st- Teagan Flikkema (Manhattan Christian)2nd- Holland Triemstra (Manhattan Christian)3rd – Holt Hardaway (Pass Creek)
Class IV: Grades 8 & 9
1st – Derk Flikkema (Manhattan Christian)2nd- Bailey VanDyke (Manhattan Christian)3rd – Brielle Harwood (Pass Creek)
Class V: Grades 10 and 11
1st Joy Taylor James (Manhattan Christian)2nd Emily Straatman (Manhattan Christian)3rd Alexa Vankley (Manhattan Christian)
Class VII: Special Needs
1st Nikki Vandyken (Manhattan Christian)2nd Sophie Beiswanger (Manhattan Christian)3rd Molly Hubner (Manhattan Christian)
The Auxiliary congratulated all the winners and indicated it wasn’t easy to pick them.
“Please know we had about 125 submissions this year & there were so many amazing posters to choose from!” reads the statement.