South Windsor Student Places Second In Patriotic Essay Contest

SUFFIELD, CT — The Department of Connecticut Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) has announced the top winners in the 2024 Voice of Democracy (VOD) District Three essay contest. Created in 1947, the VOD audio-essay contest has been VFW’s premier scholarship program since 1961. It is open to high school students, grades 9-12, who are enrolled in a public, private or parochial high school or home study programs.

Each year, 25,000 students across the country participate to compete for more than $1 million in scholarships and incentives. Contestants record a three to five-minute essay based on an annual patriotic theme which is submitted to their local sponsor VFW Post. The Post winners move on to a District level and those winners to a statewide competition during the fall of the academic year.

This year’s theme was "Is America Today Our Forefather’s Vision?" Soham Shah, a senior at South Windsor High School, took second place. He was sponsored by VFW Post 2046 of Manchester.

The top three placewinners were presented certificates and a monetary award at a ceremony on Jan. 11 in Suffield, during the Third District’s Annual Awards Breakfast of the Department of Connecticut Veterans of Foreign War and its Auxiliary.

"The Voice of Democracy competition provides high school students with the opportunity to speak out on freedom and democracy," stated Lee Wilson, Commander District Three. "The program has been popular and successful since its beginning in 1947 and we are proud to keep offering it to America’s young citizens."

Commenting on his second place showing, Shah said, "I am immensely grateful to the VFW for this opportunity. It gave me the chance to reflect upon how far our nation has come and the responsibility that each of us has to ensure America embodies its core values for all people."