Hopatcong Student Wins District Voice of Democracy Contest

Three students were honored at Monday night's meeting for their Voice of Democracy essays. But one received even higher praise.

Senior Brooke O'Donnell won the district award over 2,817 other applicants and was invited to a banquet Saturday night where she read her essay to the top 20 finalists.

"It was definitely an experience and I"m definitely glad I got to do it," O'Donnell said.

O'Donnell was given Hopatcong's top prize for the award. Seniors Yalixsa Delgado and Sarah Indano grabbed second and third place, respectively, in the district.

"The way I took mine, the spin that I went with it, was that when the Vietnam veterans came back they weren't really respected at all," O'Donnell said, referring to her essay. "Then I went on to explain the different ways of how they are respected in our country today and the pride in our country is really exemplified."

Delgado said she didn't know many people in the military, but appreciated their sacrifice.

"I appreciate the pride that I always see, and the family members of those who are in the military," she said. "I've seen things on TV and memorials and it's touching. And, for me, to have that much pride, to risk your life for something you believe in so strongly, something you want to protect the rest of your life, it means a lot."

Indano said she has many family members and friends in the military.

"I just appreciated writing it," she said. "It hit close to home for me. And as we were writing it and reading it to each other in the library, (Valerie) Clark, whose son is enrolling in the military, came up to us and mentioned to us how happy it made her because she was so nervous. Her son had left for his physical that morning and it was just something that really meant a lot."