Caroline Mays, a Junior at Pinecrest High School, was named the Veterans of Foreign Wars Department of North Carolina’s second place winner and recipient of a $3,000 award in the 2019 Voice of Democracy Scholarship program. VFW Post 7318 and its Auxiliary in Southern Pines sponsored Caroline May.
“The Voice of Democracy competition provides high school students with the opportunity to speak out on freedom and democracy,” says VFW Department Commander Alan Payne. “The program has been popular and successful since its beginning in 1947, and we’re proud to keep offering it to America’s young people.”
The Voice of Democracy is a worldwide audio-essay competition that requires entrants to write and record a three-to-five minute essay on a patriotic-based theme. “Why My Vote Matters” was this year’s theme.
The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) started the Voice of Democracy Scholarship program in 1947. The VFW became a national sponsor in the late 1950s and assumed sole responsibility for the program in 1961. The competition was created to provide students grades 9-12 the opportunity to express themselves in regard to democratic ideas and principles. Around 40,000 students participate in the competition each year and VFW awards more than $2.1 million in scholarships every year.
Feature photo: (L,R) Tracy Armstrong District 9 Auxiliary President, Caroline Mays, and District 9 Commander Van Holly.
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