Noah Acton named VFW Voice of Democracy contest winner

The Veterans of Foreign Wars sponsors an annual contest for high school students and nearly 40,000 students from across the country entered to win a share of the $2.2 million in educational scholarship and incentives awarded through the VFW’s Voice of Democracy audio-essay competition.

VFW Post No. 10281 Commander Butch Ferrell, right, presents Noah Acton, VFW Voice of Democracy contest winner, with a VOD certificate and check.

The Voice of Democracy program was established in 1947 to provide students in ninth through 12th grades the opportunity to express their democratic ideas and principles. The theme for 2012-13 was “Is Our Constitution Still Relevant?”

VFW Post 10281 Chairman Steve Egan and Ladies Auxiliary Co-Chairwoman Debbie Ferrell provided the contest information to local high schools and were rewarded with a number of entries. The panel of judges chose Noah Acton as the local winner and submitted his entry for district judging. Noah’s entry also won that competition and continued to state-level judging. Noah came in fifth place out of all entries submitted to the Kentucky VFW Scholarship Chairman Gary Smethers. Noah is the son of David Acton of Salt Lake City, Utah, and LeAnn Williams of Glendale; and the grandson of Randy Acton of Elizabethtown.

Students can prepare for the 2013-14 competition in which the national winner receives a $30,000 scholarship. The Voice of Democracy Program is open to students in ninth through 12th grades who are enrolled in a public, private or parochial high school or home study program in the United States and its territories. The deadline for the 2013-14 program is Nov. 1.

An entry form can be downloaded at www.vfw.org under programs. The theme is “Why I’m Optimistic About our Nation’s Future." Information will be sent to schools.