Applications Being Accepted For 2017 Voice of Democracy Essay Competition

The Veterans of Foreign Wars announced that applications are now being accepted at 3 Smithtown High Schools for the 2017 Voice of Democracy Essay Competition.

The competition provides high school freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors the opportunity to write and record a 3 to 5 minute broadcast script on a patriotic theme, competing for more than $2.3 million in college scholarships and incentives.

State winners receive an all-expenses- paid trip to Washington, D.C. as well as $152,000 in additional
scholarships, with first place receiving a $30,000 scholarship. In addition, the first place winner's essay will be submitted to County level VFW competition and can go all the way to a National winner.

All entries must be submitted by the schools, to Post 10870 by Nov. 1.

Click here to view the application and previous winners essays.

Smithtown VFW Post 10870 sponsors the competition locally every year and has now expanded the program to include Smithtown High East, Smithtown High School West, and Hauppauge High School.

The theme for this year’s audio essay is: “American History: Our Hope for the Future.”

Last year’s 1 st place winner was Joshua Torres, from Hauppauge High School. He read his essay at the 2016 Smithtown Veterans Day ceremony.

His essay was also entered in County Level competition to compete for additional scholarship awards.

For more information, contact Tom Mooney, VoD Committee Chairman at 631 834-4128, or the 3 local high school contest coordinators.

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