Winfield teen wins VFW democracy speech competition
West Chicago Community High School senior Natalie Thompson of Winfield placed first in the VFW Voice of Democracy 19th District audio-essay competition.
Thompson competed against 145 entrants from 24 VFW posts in the 19th District and now moves on in the competition to compete with the winners from VFW districts across the state of Illinois.
The winner of the state competition on Feb. 9 and 10 in Springfield then will compete nationally in Washington, D.C., in March for a chance to win a $30,000 scholarship.
Out of 67 local entries, four other West Chicago Community High School students also qualified for the 19th District competition: senior Michael Sawicki of Carol Stream, and junior Daniela Almarales, senior Jacob Beaird and senior Jeremy Belingon of West Chicago. Sawicki placed fifth in the 19th District competition, which was Saturday, Jan. 13, in Addison.
All students who entered the competition will be recognized and awarded more than $3,000 in prizes by members of VFW Post 6791 at the school board meeting on Feb. 20.
To enter the competition, students wrote and recorded audio of themselves reading an essay reflecting the theme "American History: Our Hope for the Future." The program provides high school students with the opportunity to express themselves in regards to democratic ideas and principles.
West Chicago Community High School social studies teachers John Chisholm and Nicole Stadler assisted with the competition.