The Veterans of Foreign Wars recently announced that Scotland Stewart, a Franklin County High School sophomore, was named the national first-place winner in its 2022-23 Voice of Democracy scholarship program and was the recipient of the $35,000 T.C. Selman Memorial Scholarship award.

The announcement was made during a March 6 Parade of Winners ceremony at the 2023 VFW Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C., where Stewart was presented with his $35,000 award and delivered his winning speech. Estill Springs VFW Post 1893 sponsored Stewart.

Open to eligible high school students in ninth through 12th grades, the VFW’s annual Voice of Democracy audio-essay contest requires entrants to write and record a three- to five-minute script on a democratic, patriotic theme.

This year, nearly 23,500 high school students from around the world reflected on the theme “Why is the Veteran Important?” with national finalists competing for their share of $171,000 in scholarships and awards.