Cactus Canyon Junior High School student Michael Osborn has advanced to state competition for the VFW’s Patriot’s Pen essay contest. The theme of the 2022-23 contest is “My Pledge to Our Veterans.”

Osborn won first place locally in a VFW Post No. 7968 contest, which qualified him for the next level of competition. He is one of the top nine students who will move on to the state contest. The announcement for the state winner will be revealed in January and the celebratory banquet is scheduled to take place in Phoenix in June.

“We are very proud of Michael and what he wrote in his essay,” said Kenneth deLoera, principal at CCJHS. “We wish him the best as he represents us at the next level of competition.”

According to the VFW’s national website, each year, nearly 68,800 students in grades 6-8 enter the VFW’s Patriot’s Pen youth essay contest for a chance to win their share of more than $1.4 million in state and national awards. Each first place state winner receives a minimum of $500 at the national level, and the national first place winner wins $5,000.

CCJHS emphasizes a well-rounded education where academics, sports and extracurricular activities allow students to grow scholastically, physically and emotionally. CCJHS students can get a head start on funding their college education by signing up for Pinal Promise in junior high. The program offers a tuition-free education at Central Arizona College for those who fulfill the requirements and graduate from participating high schools in Pinal County such as Apache Junction High School.

For more information about AJUSD or its schools or departments, go to ajusd.org.