Six Black Diamond Elementary students were presented awards by the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) for their essays during a school assembly Friday, Dec. 16.

The essays dealt with the theme “What is an American?”

Cmrd. Mike Miller and Jr. Vice Cmrd. Ralph Henry from the VFW Maple Valley/Black Diamond Post No. 5052, presented the awards.

The winners were Max Hesselgesser, Tristan Thomson, Zane Eilers, Jensen Davis, Gabriel Noel and Kristeena Thacker.

All students are fifth graders, except Zane, who is a third grader.

Hesselgesser and Davis both received first place awards and read their essays to the audience of students, staff and parents at the assembly.

Jensen represented Post 5052 at a regional competition and received third place.