Manchester Student Wins NJ VFW Voice Of Democracy Contest

MANCHESTER, NJ — A Manchester Township High School senior is headed to Washington, DC, after winning the VFW Voice of Democracy New Jersey competition.

Andrew Dodd was announced as the New Jersey winner of the 2018-19 contest, which awards a $5,000 scholarship at the state level. The state winners, who compete for a $30,000 scholarship in the national contest, receive an expenses-paid trip to Washington for the final competition.

The Voice of Democracy essay contest was established by the Veterans of Foreign Wars in 1947. High school students compete with an audio essay that gives them an opportunity to express themselves on a democratic and patriotic theme.

Nearly 40,000 9th- to 12th-grade students from across the country enter each year for a chance at their share of $2.1 million in educational scholarships and incentives awarded through the program.

Lakehurst VFW Post 10061 sponsors the contest locally. Post Commander Joe Whelan said that Dodd won the district competition and then went on to win the state competition with his audio essay on this year’s topic, "Why My Vote Matters." It was Dodd's second win on the district level.

Whelan and VFW Post 10061 Trustees Frank Stack and Ray Gibson visited Manchester Township High School to congratulate Dodd and present the state VFW traveling plaque that lists all past winners’ names, with Dodd's name added for this year. It will hang in the school until next year, when the plaque will go to the 2019-20 state winner. At that time, Manchester will receive a permanent plaque commemorating Andrew’s accomplishment.

The national first-place winner receives a $30,000 scholarship paid directly to the recipient’s American university, college or vocational/technical school. There are additional scholarships awarded that range from $1,000-$16,000.

Dodd said he is looking forward to competing in Washington this March.

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VFW Commander Joe Whelan presents the state winners plaque to Andrew Dodd and Manchester Township High School Principal Dennis Adams. Second photo: VFW Trustee Frank Stack, Superintendent David Trethaway, VFW Commander Joe Whelan, Andrew Dodd, Principal Dennis Adams, VFW Trustee Ray Gibson. Photos by Lee Bruzaitis, Manchester Township Schools