Created in 1947, the Voice of Democracy (VOD) scholarship program is an audio-essay contest for high school students in grades 9-12 that annually provides more than $3 million in scholarships. The first-place winner will then compete with all of the first-place VFW Department winners, and will receive a $30,000 scholarship that is paid directly to the recipient's American university, college or vocational/technical school.

As the winner of the VFW Post 4298 contest, Sarah was previously awarded $100 and a $1,000 scholarship for college. Besides competing for the top scholarship prize, as well as other national scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $16,000, each Department's first-place winner receives an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C.

As the winner of the local VFW District 5 competition, Sarah will now receive an additional $200 and is invited along with her parents to an all-expenses paid Voice of Democracy banquet, which will be held at the Winslow VFW Post 8835 on Saturday, Jan. 14.

The VOD program is endorsed by the National Association of Secondary School Principals' contest criteria and is designed to foster patriotism by allowing students the opportunity to voice their opinion in a three to five minute essay based on an annual theme.