Essay Contest Asks Students: Why Are You Optimistic About The Nation's Future?

Livingston veterans are challenging high school students to think about the nation's future. 

Livingston Post 2856 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and its Ladies’ Auxiliary are sponsoring the Voice of Democracy's annual essay scholarship competition for Livingston High School students. This year's essay question is, "Why I'm optimistic about our nation's future." 

This competition is for all students in grades 9-12. Students may write and then record on a CD a 3-5-minute audio essay on the theme. Participants cannot mention their names, schools, hometowns or home states in their essays.

Deadline for submission for the Voice of Democracy audio-essay contest is Nov. 1.

Prizes and scholarships will be awarded at the local, district, state and national levels. State winners will receive an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C., on March 1-5, 2014, to tour the city, meet the nation’s leaders, and be honored by the VFW and its Ladies’ Auxiliary.

Besides competing for the top scholarship prize of $30,000, participants are competing for other scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $16,000.

For more information, call Scott Kercher, chairman of social studies at Livingston High School, at (973) 535-8000, ext. 8049; VFW’s Voice of Democracy chairman, Fred Picini, 973-992-2640; or visit www.vfw.org.