Voice of Democracy and Patriot's Pen Scholarship Program

Monday evening over $200,000 in scholarships were awarded by the VFW in our premier youth programs.  Additionally, each contestant in stage also received a new Dell laptop computer courtesy of the Dell Corporation.  As the Junior Vice Commander in Chief, I was the master of ceremonies for the event and it was a wonderful evening.

All 52 Department winners from high schools around the world were introduced and excitedly waited on stage as their names were called.  The tension mounted as they received their scholarship awards and the audience counted down to the Final Four.

Ultimately, it was high school senior Shruthi Kumar from Nebraska who took first place and garnered a $30,000 college scholarship for the Voice of Democracy program.  Ruby Howe, a seventh grade student from Michigan, won the Patriot's Pen Program and received $5,000.  The topic for both programs was "What Makes America Great."  Including the $200,000 given Monday, the total  amount of scholarships given at the National, State, and Local levels exceeded $3 Million for this year's programs!

National President Haake and Commander in Chief Schmitz presented the top winners their awards

Megan was able to attend her first Awards program with me.  She sat in the front row with Mama, just in front of the podium where I performed the MC duties.  Mama made sure to keep her eyes on me the whole time!