Amanda Starling,  the daughter of Skip and Dr. Nathalie Starling of Newington, and Michaela Lariscy, the daughter of Jeff and Kelli Lariscy of Guyton, were recently recognized as the first and second place winners of this year’s Voice of Democracy (VOD) speech contest.  

Quartermaster John M. Bath from VFW Post 3092 presented Starling and Lariscy, both sophomores at South Effingham High School, with certificates and scholarships in recognition of their outstanding speeches, which were recorded and submitted to the VOD committee in November. Starling’s first place entry has advanced to the district competition.

The Voice of Democracy has been the Veteran’s of Foreign Wars’ (VFW’s) premier scholarship program since 1947.  Each year, more than 100,000 high school students compete for more than $2.5 million in scholarships and incentives. 

Students compete by writing and recording a broadcast script on an annual patriotic theme.  This year’s theme was “Service and Sacrifice by American’s Veterans Benefit Today’s Youth By...”