The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

WAITSBURG - At Wednesday night's American Legion Joint Installation of Officers, Kathryn Kuykendall was surprised to learn that she is the fourth Waitsburg student (and first Waitsburg homeschooler) to win the American Legion Auxiliary Americanism Essay at the national (Western Division) level. The other Waitsburg national essay winners include Emma Philbrook (2009), Meara Baker (2010), and Leena Baker(2013).

Above left: (back row) Meara Baker, Emma Philbrook, Leena Baker and (front) Kathryn Kuykendall have each won the American Legion Auxiliary Americanism Essay contest at the national level. Above right: Auxiliary dignitary Emma Peoples presents Kuykendall with her award certificate.

The entire Kuykendall family attended the dinner under the pretense of providing mealtime entertainment. Following their lively bluegrass performance, past National Chaplain Emma Peoples surprised Kuykendall by calling her to the podium and announcing the award.

Auxiliary member B. A. Keve began organizing the contest locally in 1990 and doesn't recall any national winners until recent years. "It's very, very exciting to have so many national winners right from our little town," she said. All three previous winners attended the dinner, acting as servers so as not to raise Kathryn's suspicion, so that a photo of the group could be captured following the award.