VFW honors students, Teacher of Year

FALLBROOK — Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1924 and its Ladies Auxiliary hosted a luncheon on November 14 to honor students whose essays were selected as award winners and a teacher who was presented with the National Citizenship Education Teacher Award.

The teacher, Ron Stebner, an eighth grade social studies teacher at Potter Junior High School, was nominated for the distinction by Principal Dr. Tere Peterson.

This year’s Voice of Democracy essay winners are: Wade Colburn, first place, $500; Malary Greenwood, second place, $300; and Brianna Stofflet, third place, $200.

Colburn has participated in the program for three years and has been an award winner each year.

Lutz Zastrow and Linda Poznanter encouraged many high school students to participate this year and all three winners did an excellent job.

The winners of the Patriot’s Pen essay contest are: Rachel Graef, first place; Emily Majewski, second place; and Jacob Smyth, third place.

Teachers Mrs. Fischer and Mrs. Boyd were instrumental in this program for the 74 middle school entries.

Stebner has taught for 16 years in the Fallbrook Union Elementary School District and has served as ASB (leadership) advisor for nine years.

Peterson praised Stebner by saying “history comes alive” in his classroom. She also said he “instills civic responsibility in students and encourages community service.”

Stebner served in the Vietnam War transporting supplies and bringing wounded servicemen home.