Brooke Kuecker is a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Ladies Auxiliary while studying health science. The VFW Ladies Auxiliary provides various services to support US veterans and their families, including youth activities, cancer research funding, and scholarship opportunities for junior high and high school students such as the annual Patriot's Pen Essay Contest. This year's contest challenges students to write an essay on the importance of appreciating American veterans, with over $26,000 in scholarships available and a $5,000 award for the winner. Essays must be 300-400 words and submitted by November 1, 2014.