Smithtown HS West Junior Wins Essay Contest

SMITHTOWN, NY — Oliva Wolber, a junior at Smithtown High School West, won first place in an essay contest and was recently honored by Smithtown VFW Post 10870, the Smithtown Central School District announced.

Wolber submitted her essay in The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. Voices of Democracy essay contest. She wrote and recorded a 3-5 minute broadcast script on a patriotic theme, competing for more than $2.3 million in college scholarships and incentives.

This year's theme was "Why is the Veteran Important?"

An excerpt of Wolber's essay reads:

"They are examples for all to look up to thank and follow. They are educators of love and tolerance. They are reminders to the youth and to the naive why we should rise for our pledge to the flag of a country we get to call our own. They remind us why we put our right hand over our beating hearts during our national anthem. Because it is them who had the whites of their eyes go red from crying their tears of blue in heartbreak watching brothers and sisters fall around them."

Wolber's essay was advanced in the national competition to VFW County, district, NYS and national level judging.

Should she win, she could be provided with up to $30,000 in additional scholarships and a trip to Washington D.C., said Tom Mooney, the communications officer of the Smithtown VFW & American Legion.