February 6, 2013 THE VILLADOM TIMES II • Page 5 Ridgewood Kurt Schnaars of Ridgewood has received the first place award in the 2013 VFW Post 192 and its Ladies Auxiliary’s Voice of Democracy competition. Post 192 serves Ridgewood and Ho-Ho-Kus, and students from these municipalities, Saddle River, and Upper Saddle River are invited to participate in the annual contest. Schnaars, who is currently a senior at Don Bosco Prep High School in Ramsey, was honored last week at a ceremony held at Ho-Ho-Kus Borough Hall. VFW Post 192 Commander Stanley Kober presented Schnaars with a certificate, a check for $150, and various publications, including a copy of the U.S. Constitution, a description of the difference between Memorial Day and Veterans Day, and a copy of “Rules of Civility and Decent Behavior” by George Washington. The winning entry has been passed on to the next level of the VOD competition. Each of this year’s VOD contestants was charged with writing an essay on the theme “Is Our Constitution Still Relevant?” After writing the essay, the students recorded their views in a three-to-five minute audio essay. Each year, high school students are invited to compete in the annual VOD audio essay competition. Entrants have the opportunity to win thousands of dollars in scholarships, a trip to Washington, D.C., and dozens of other awards. This program is endorsed by the National Association of Secondary School Principals. High school students begin by competing at the local level. Post winners then advance to district level, and dis- Resident earns first place award in VOD contest trict winners compete in the state-level contest. The winner of the state competition will enjoy an allexpense paid trip to Washington, D.C. in March 2013, along with the winners from every state, the District of Columbia, the Pacific areas, Latin America, the Caribbean, and Europe. During the more than 60 years that the Veterans of Foreign Wars and its Ladies Auxiliary have been involved with Voice of Democracy, more than seven million high school students have participated. All state-level winners receive at least a $1,000 national scholarship, but any one of them could win the $30,000 first place scholarship award. J. CRUSCO VFW Post 192 Commander Stanley Kober presents the first place Voice of Democracy Award to Kurt Schnaars.