Smartt earns VFW scholarship

Posted 1/23/20

Forrest High School sophomore Jeanne Kay Smartt, pictured with Lewisburg VFW Post 5109 Commander Hundley Ford, has been awarded the “Voice of Democracy” scholarship by Lewisburg VFW Post 5109. Jeanne Kay, the daughter of Sharrin and Chuck Peter and the late Bob Smartt, entered the audio-essay contest last year in November on the local level. ...

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Smartt earns VFW scholarship

Posted

Forrest High School sophomore Jeanne Kay Smartt, pictured with Lewisburg VFW Post 5109 Commander Hundley Ford, has been awarded the “Voice of Democracy” scholarship by Lewisburg VFW Post 5109.

Jeanne Kay, the daughter of Sharrin and Chuck Peter and the late Bob Smartt, entered the audio-essay contest last year in November on the local level. The essay theme for the 2019-2020 contest is “What Makes America Great” Jeanne Kay’s speech was based on her family’s lengthy military history that included her great-grandfathers, grandfathers and brothers, one of which is currently serving in the U.S. Marine Corp. As a winner of the local contest, Smartt was awarded a signed Voice of Democracy Certificate from the National VFW, a backpack and $300 for college from the VFW Post 5109 and the Ladies Auxiliary.

The Voice of Democracy audio-essay program was established in 1947 and provides high school students with an opportunity to express themselves through a democratic and patriotic-themed audio essay. Nearly 40,000 9-12 grade students enter to win their share of more than $1.9 million in educational scholarships and incentives awarded through the program across the country.

The national first-place winner receives a $30,000 scholarship. The first-place winner from each state-level VFW Department wins a minimum scholarship of $1,000 and an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, DC.