Lockport VFW Announces Essay Contest Winners

LOCKPORT, IL — The Veterans of Foreign Wars Lockport Post 5788 has announced the three local winners of its annual Voice of Democracy audio essay scholarship competition.

This year's theme is "Is America Today Our Forefather's Vision?", according to a release from the VFW.

The winners include:

• Raed Slim of Plainfield, and a Romeoville High School student, received a first place post award of $300.
• Giada Roti of Lockport-Homer Glen, who received $200 for second place
• Sebastian LaBuda of Romeoville and a Romeoville High School student, who received $100 for third place.

The Lockport IL VFW's first place winner, Raed Slim, will now go on to the VFW's District 18 Southwest Suburban competition. The VFW District 18 Winner will be announced at a luncheon banquet in early January.

VFW District Winners will then compete at the Illinois VFW Department Competition held in Springfield in February, according to the VFW. These winners will go on to compete for more prizes in the national competition. Top national prizes include a $35,000 scholarship.

The patriotic-themed Voice of Democracy audio essay scholarship competition is a national program for high school-aged students that has been run by the VFW since 1947.