Washougal students earned a number of recognitions in several prestigious Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Auxiliary competitions: the Illustrating America Art Contest and the Get Excited for the Red, White & Blue National Anthem Singing Contest. The awards reflect the efforts of Washougal students to beautifully share their understanding and appreciation of American values and democracy through performing and visual arts.
Interim Superintendent Aaron Hansen said, “Washougal students have so much talent as singers, writers, and artists. It’s inspiring to me to see our students using their talent to celebrate and honor those who have served our country and our democracy.”
VFW Auxiliary Historian/Media Relations chair Susan Bennett, who helped present the awards, said, “We are always so impressed by the art, singing, and essays that Camas and Washougal students submit. Members of the Auxiliary and VFW Post 4278 are excited to use these contests to encourage students to learn about our country and our democratic values. We encourage all students, including those who are not enrolled in art or music classes, to enter the contests.”
WHS Student Recognized Locally and at State Level for National Anthem Performance
Washougal High School student Catherine Yung earned first place in the Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary Post 4278 “Get Excited for the Red, White & Blue National Anthem Singing Contest” for grades 9-12. Yung’s performance of the Star Spangled Banner was also submitted to the state Auxiliary to The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States competition, and won second place for Washington State.
VFW Post 4278 and Auxiliary members presented Yung with certificates from both the local and statewide competitions at Washougal High School, where they also shared her video submission. Yung received a cash prize from each organization as well.
Cape Horn-Skye Elementary Students Win Illustration Contest
Cape Horn-Skye student Taylor Mayer was awarded third place in the Illustrating America Art Contest by the VFW Auxiliary Post 4278 for grades 3-5.
Cape Horn-Skye student Emanuel Bolokhovskiy also created artwork for the Illustrating America Art Contest and was awarded third place by the VFW Auxiliary Post 4278, and was recognized by the state Auxiliary to The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States as well, for students in grades K-2.
Middle School Students Recognized
Jemtegaard Middle School student Adelaide Kessinger was awarded first place in the “Get Excited for the Red, White & Blue National Anthem Singing Contest” for grades K-8 at the local level.
Tia Linnik will be awarded first place for art she submitted to the Illustrating America Art Contest by the VFW Auxiliary Post 4278 for grades K-8 during the Columbia River Gorge Elementary Veterans Day assembly in November.
Skyla Ostenson was awarded 2nd place for art she submitted to the Illustrating America Art Contest by the VFW Auxiliary Post 4278 for grades K-8.
Washougal, Wash. - At their October 22, 2024 board meeting, the Washougal School District Board of Directors approved the purchase of a parcel of land to be used as a future school site. The property purchase will use $1,025,000 in funds, based on an appraisal, collected through impact fees on development in the community.
The parcel, located south of SE 20th Street near 340th Avenue, will not be immediately developed. Interim Superintendent Aaron Hansen said, “Purchasing the land now allows the district secure a school site that may not be available when it will be needed in the future, when the population of Washougal is expected to be higher.”
Board President Sadie McKenzie said, “this is a beautiful part of the district, and securing the 31 acres of land now lets us be ready for future growth in the community. Board members have visited the site and concluded it will serve the district well in the future when we need it.”
Board member Jim Cooper stated that the land purchase shows that, “the board is looking out decades, not for what we need next year.” Hansen noted that, “the current option agreement expires at the end of December, so it is time for the district to make this purchase. Purchasing the land at this time lets the district use the impact fee resources that are available now and restricted only for this type of use. This will allow the district to purchase the property while it is available and before the cost of the land goes up even further, which we have seen happen with other property.”
The land acquisition is planned for in the district’s current long range Capital Facilities Plan, but there is no plan to develop a school on this site during the current 6-year plan period. Development of the site will be addressed in future plans.