Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge trip winners announced

Lesley Nordhausen, Community Relations Manager and local Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge board member, has announced there will be 10 students from Chase County Schools going on the FFVF trip March 6-13, 2024.
Thousands of students from across the country have obtained a greater understanding and appreciation of American history and civic responsibility through Freedoms Foundation’s many programs.
“They learn about democracy, the judiciary, the political process, the founding documents, and the free enterprise system through innovative workshops and historical site visits that allow them to encounter our nation’s past, present, and future,” as quoted on the FFVF website.
“The Chase County Chapter of Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge was created in 1973 by Mary Lou Swanson and Nancy Weir. Students selected to go get an opportunity to enjoy cultural and historical experiences at Valley Forge and Washington D.C.,” said FFVF board member Claudette Swanson.
“My husband, Owen, and Nancy Weir’s son, Joe, were the first students to go on the trip,” she added.
Sponsors for the upcoming trip are Ryan and Megan Wisnieski. Scholarship winners this year are Kevin Dannatt, receiving the Mary Lou Swanson scholarship; George Colton and Katelyn Stamm, FFVF 80% scholarships; and 40% scholarships were awarded to all other students.  
“Lesley Nordhausen sets up the trip and is integral in working with the students along with high school counselor Jacci Paisley,” Swanson added.
The local chapter is one of the smallest community populations with an active chapter. Swanson said she is passionate about keeping this organization alive.
A little history
Since 1949, Freedoms Foundation has sought to preserve American patriotism and recognize civic duty through a prestigious National Awards program. Led by original co-founders Kenneth D. Wells, Don Belding, General Dwight D. Eisenhower, and E.F. Hutton, the team settled on historic Valley Forge as the Foundation’s home.
The organization expanded its mission in 1965 to provide high-quality history and civic education opportunities for students and educators to emphasize the individual freedoms cherished by citizens of the United States. These programs focus on understanding the U.S. political, social, and economic system and the responsibilities of good citizenship.