The 2024/2025 PHS winners of the Voice of Democracy audio-essay competition are:

1st place Natalie Yargus

2nd place Raylynn Rodgers

3rd place  Kinsler Beabout

At a banquet held at the local VFW post, all three winners will receive cash prizes.

The Voice of Democracy is a competition held by the VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) for high school and middle school students. The winner within the high school competition can win up to $35,000 dollars in a college scholarship. Middle schoolers can win $5,000.

The VOD competition was made in 1947. It was made for students to express themselves in a democratic and patriotic themed essay. According to the VFW website nearly 25,000 ninth through twelfth grade students from all over the country participate to win a share of more than $1 million of educational scholarships.

The national winner wins a $35,000 scholarship which is paid directly to their American university, college, or vocational/trade school. There are other scholarships that range from $1,000 to $21,000. The first place winner from each VFW Department (state) can win a $1,000 scholarship.

The theme this year was “Is America today our forefathers’ vision.”