Huntley High School junior wins McHenry VFW Post 4600′s verbal essay contest

Huntley High School junior Ellie Armstrong was selected the winner of this year’s Voice of Democracy Verbal Essay competition by McHenry Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4600 judges, according to a news release.

Armstrong’s entry went on to win the district competition and finished 6th in state competition, according to the release.

The theme for this year’s competition was “Is This the Country the Founders Envisioned.”

“With a pandemic, Presidential Election and wide-ranging social issues across the country, those entering faced an especially problematic task,” the post said in a news release.

By winning the local competition, Armstrong will receive a $500 scholarship payable to the college, university, or technical or vocational school of her choice.

The Voice of Democracy audio-essay program was established in 1947, and each year, nearly 40,000 high school students from across the country enter to win their share of $2.1 million in educational scholarships and incentives awarded through the program.

Applications for the next year’s contest can be picked up at the McHenry VFW post, located at 3002 W. Route 120, or by calling 815-385-4600.