MANSFIELD, PA— Faculty and students in the Mansfield University Department of Education and Special Education have been honored by the Pennsylvania Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) for judging a coloring contest the VFW ran for area students in second through fifth grade during the spring semester. The contest theme was “I Pledge Allegiance.” 
VFW District 15 Commander Dan Rieppel, who also chairs the organization’s Citizenship and Education Committee, presented certifications of appreciation to Professor and Department Chair Nanci Werner-Burke, Professor Jannis Floyd, who retired at the end of the semester, Assistant Professor Rebecca Parks and Christina Fry, director of Educational Field Experiences.
Students in Werner-Burke’s Integrating the Arts course, all of whom are pursuing early childhood teaching certifications, served as judges.
The first place winner from second grade was Madalyn Smith from Northeast Bradford Elementary School. The first place winner for grade three was Allison Hegwood from Saint John Paul II School. Maria Tsoutsoulis from Rolling Acres was the fourth grade winner. For fifth grade, the winner was Hannah Golub from St. John Paul II. 
“The VFW offers numerous contests and scholarship opportunities throughout the year,” Werner-Burke said. “Mansfield has been designated as a Military Friendly university, and students in the Education and Special Education program were pleased to be able to assist the VFW with this contest.”
To learn more about the Education and Special Education Department, go to mansfield.edu/edspeced/