Students speak about democracy in VFW auxiliary competition

There is a ritual that takes place every Wednesday at the Carpentersville VFW Post 5915.

Folks file in, take their seats and prepare for the bingo game to start. Good luck charms are arranged and cards are lined up all in anticipation of the first call.

And while players are in for a fun and entertaining way to spend the afternoon, the money they paid to get in is set aside for a most worthy cause.

That money is finding its way toward its intended recipients today at the VFW's Ladies Auxiliary Scholarship and Awards Luncheon. More than $6,000 is being donated today to winners of the VFW's scholarship programs and other organizations throughout the community.

The VFW's two scholarship programs are national in scope. According to Elaine Slack, who is co-chairwoman of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary 5915 Youth Activities & Scholarship program along with her husband Chuck, the historical Voice of Democracy scholarship program was initiated by the National Association of Broadcasters in 1946.

"The Voice of Democracy is a national audio competition designed to allow ninth- through 12th-grade high school students to voice their opinion on their responsibility to our nation. Veterans of Foreign War became involved in the program in 1950 and they took on the sole responsibility in 1961," Slack said.

To enter, high school students submit a three- to five-minute audio essay. This year's theme was "My Role in Honoring American Veterans." Slack said winners from Post 5915 are sent to the district level of competition. From there they can advance to the state and then national level. The first-place national winner receives a $30,000 scholarship that is paid directly to the recipient's American university, college, or vocational/technical school.

This year's first-place winner at Post 5915 is Blythe C. Meyer, who is in the 12th grade at Burlington Central High School. She placed first at 5th District Department of Illinois, and will be advancing to the state level competition. She will travel to Springfield next month to compete with 19 other districts.

Meyer will receive $300 in scholarship money from the Carpentersville VFW as well as a plaque.

In second place is Nancy J. O'Neill, a 12th-grader at Dundee-Crown High School in Carpentersville. O'Neill will receive $200 in scholarship money today.

And in third place is Brittany M. Seyller, an 11th-grader at St Edward Central Catholic High School in Elgin. Seyller will receive $100 in scholarship money.

The VFW's other scholarship program is the "Patriot's Pen" essay contest for sixth-, seventh-, and eighth-graders. This essay contest was established in 1995. To enter, students must submit a 300- to 400-word written essay. This year's theme was "Why I Am an American Patriot."

This year's first place winner is Kathryn L. Wrightsman, who is in seventh grade at Algonquin Middle School. Wrightsman place first in the district competition. She will receive $100 from Post 5915, along with a plaque.

In second place is Hannah M. Hirsch, who is in seventh grade at Algonquin Middle School. Hirsch will receive $75 in scholarship money.

Third place belongs to Kyle B. Lamprecht, also in seventh grade at Algonquin Middle School. He will receive $50 in scholarship money.

Winners and their families will attend today's luncheon, where the winners will present their winning essays.

Slack said other organizations that will be receiving a monetary donation are: the Carpentersville Fire Department, the Carpentersville Police Department, Meadowdale Little League, Community Crisis Center, Easter Seals Jayne Shover Center in Elgin, PADS of Elgin, PADS of McHenry County, Transitional Living Services in Hebron, the Salvation Army, the Village of Carpentersville's Veterans Garden, Hospice of Northeastern Illinois, Boys and Girls Club of Dundee Township, NASA Education Corp. of Crystal Lake, and Little Angels of Elgin.

Guest being honored and thanked will include: a representative from Liberty Elementary School, for helping to collect non-perishable food items for the Ladies Auxiliary Holiday Baskets; a fourth-grade teacher from Sleepy Hollow Elementary School who helped her students buy items for veterans with money they earned themselves; Dundee-Crown High School teacher Tom Rodman, for help in making the Voice of Democracy Program the success that it was; Algonquin Middle School seventh-grade teacher Kristin Fries, for help in making the Patriot's Pen program the success that is was; and the veterans and educators that served as judges in both scholarship programs.

Money for the scholarship program and community donations is earned through various gatherings held at the VFW Hall on Lake Marian Road.

Slack invites everyone to attend any or all of the following events.

Bingo is held every Wednesday from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Regular bingo is $5, and additional games are available.

There is a made-to-order breakfast every second Sunday of the month from 8 a.m. to noon.

A corned beef and cabbage dinner is planned for 5 to 8 p.m. March 15. It's all you can eat for $10.

A spaghetti dinner is scheduled for 5 to 8 p.m. March 29. For $8 you can get all the salad bar, spaghetti, homemade meatballs or sausage, dessert, and coffee, tea or milk you can eat and drink.

• If you have any news about your club, school, church, business, neighbor, or even yourself, please contact Kirstin Finneran by cell at (312) 518-4993 or e-mail at kirstinfinneran@comcast.net.