Byron sophomore takes first in audio-essay competition

BYRON – Kathleen Rock, a sophomore at Byron High School, was awarded first place prize at the District 6 Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) & Auxiliary “Voice of Democracy” (VOD) audio-essay competition. The awards banquet was held Saturday, Jan. 16 at the VFW Post 1461 in Belvidere, and welcomed 13 students from the VFW’s 6th district, which includes Galena, Rockford and Ogle County.

Every fall, nearly 40,000 high school students from across the country enter to win a share of the $2 million in educational scholarships and incentives awarded through the VFW’s VOD competition. The VFW established the program in 1947 to provide students grades 9-12 the opportunity to express themselves in regards to democratic ideas and principles.

The theme for the 2015-2016 year is, “My Vision for America.”  The students were asked to consider that question, write an essay, and produce a audio recording that runs no shorter than three (3) minutes and no longer than five (5) minutes. Each VFW Post judges the submissions and forwards the winners on to the District.  Kathleen Rock submitted her essay to the Oregon VFW Post 8739, Richard Day, Commander, and represented that post at the banquet.

The program included a delicious supper, cooked and served by the Women’s Auxiliary group, who also patriotically decorated the banquet hall. There was also time for the students to talk with each other and the veterans. For example, State of Illinois Commander Phil Maughan was on hand to chat with each of the student essayists and give them a small paratrooper keepsake pin, explaining that he served with the 82nd Airborne Disivion in Vietnam.

“It was such an amazing night, especially talking with the veterans and getting to meet everyone else involved in the VOD,” Kathleen said. “One of the themes of my essay is a vision of America where young people are passionate and engaged in their communities — and that was certainly on display here tonight.”

Kathleen’s win means she will move on in February to the state-wide competition, which will be held in Springfield. The winner from each state competition earns a trip to Washington DC and competes for national awards, which range from a minimum $1,000 up to a $30,000 scholarship paid directly to the recipient’s American university, college or vocational/technical school.

Commander Richard Day, Oregon VFW Post 8739, congratulates Kathleen Rock on her winning “Voice of Democracy” audio-essay entry. She will compete with 16 other district winners for the State of Illinois award this February in Springfield. Courtesy photo