Two Navy Junior ROTC cadets recently placed in the top three spots for the local 2016 National Sojourners Essay Contest.

“So I was asked to write about something that was important to me,” sophomore Kiahna Washington said. “And I chose to write about the Declaration of Independence because without the declaration of independence we would not have what we have today and we wouldn’t have the lives that we have today.”

Washington received first place and junior Addison Abucejo finished third.

“I was extremely proud of myself,” Washington said. “And I was extremely surprised because I wasn’t expecting to get first.”

Both students were presented with a certificate and a cash reward by Jim Baker, Anson Jones Chapter #507. And both of the essays have been submitted for the national competition.

“I felt pretty good,” Abucejo said. “I mean I didn’t really expect to win anything.”