Ashlyn Rogers, a senior at Hahnville High School, placed in the top 25 in a national essay competition, earning a $2,000 scholarship. Her award was announced during the “Parade of Winners,” a conference of all state-level winners of the Voice of Democracy contest in Washington, D.C.
The Voice of Democracy competition, which is run by the Veterans of Foreign Wars, asks students to write an essay on a patriotic theme. For this year’s prompt – “Is America today our forefather’s vision?” – Rogers wrote about the freedoms and opportunities Americans celebrate and how the United States’ founders would feel walking around American today. Her essay won first in the state.
“Finding out I won at the state level was incredibly shocking and exciting,” Rogers said. “I was honored to be given the opportunity to represent my state at the national level.”
Rogers said she enjoyed meeting the other students from each state at the D.C. conference.
“Getting to compare our traditions and cultures is so interesting,” she said. “It was my first time in Washington, D.C., so I really enjoyed getting to see all of the important monuments I’ve been learning about for years in person.”
Rogers is captain of the Hahnville Hi-Steppers and an active member of the school’s InterACT club, Student Council and the Athletic Advisor Committee. She will graduate summa cum laude this spring and plans to attend LSU in the fall to study microbiology to prepare for a career in the medical field.
The Voice of Democracy Scholarship Competition began in 1947 under the National Association of Broadcasters. In 1961, the Veterans of Foreign Wars assumed sole responsibility for the program. Many prominent Americans have participated in the program, including journalist Charles Kuralt, Miss America Anita Bryant, and former U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft.
The competition gives out more than $2.1 million in college scholarships and incentives. Each state winner is brought to Washington, D.C. to experience the nation’s capital and compete for $171,000 in national college scholarships. The first-place winner receives $35,000 in scholarships, and each state winner will receive at least $1,000 at the national level.
This year’s prompt is “How are you showing patriotism and support for our country?” The deadline is Oct. 31, and the competition is open to all students in grades 9-12.
Rogers said the competition taught her more about the country’s history and political processes.
“This will definitely come in handy in a few months when I turn 18 and am able to vote,” she said.
