Bloomingdale's VFW urges high schoolers to enter essay contest with $30,000 grand prize

Bloomingdale's Veterans of Foreign Wars chapter is encouraging high school students to participate in an essay contest with a $30,000 national grand prize.

The deadline to enter the annual Voice of Democracy Scholarship essay competition is Oct. 31.

Winners will be chosen at the local post, district, state and national level. In addition to the national grand prize, winners at the state level will receive $1,000 and a trip to Washington, D.C., and chapter winners will receive $300.

To be eligible for Bloomingdale Post 7539 to submit an essay, students must live in Bloomingdale, Roselle or Medinah and be of high school age. The participant must write and record a 3- to 5-minute essay that addresses America's influence in the world and the question "America: Where Do WE Go From Here?" Students enter by sending their recording on a flash drive, typed essay and entry form to Voice of Democracy Scholarship, VFW Post 7539, 101 Fairfield Way, Bloomingdale, IL 60108-1537. No music, singing, poetry or sound effects are allowed, and submissions must be in English.

More information is at www.vfw7539.org/scholarships.

"I think it's great that we have high school students interested in the program to want to get engaged," Bloomingdale post member Ed Aubin said. "They're learning about the freedoms of this country that were fought for because of veterans."

Aubin, a Vietnam War veteran who served in the Navy, urged young people to enter as a potential way to get financial assistance for education. He believes there will be great entries coming forward on the topic.

"I think it's a fair question and I think the young people in this country and even this program do a large amount of research," Aubin said. "Their minds are like sponges. Young people these days are eager to learn about their history and how they can look forward."