VFW Contest chairman Bob Bidwell announced that EDS junior Lilly Shockley has won first place in the VFW Post #2953 Voice of Democracy Essay Contest.  Lilly and three other EDS students were recognized for their entries in the competition sponsored by the Veterans of Foreign Wars.  Lilly’s speech will now advance to the next level of competition. This year’s theme was “My Vision for America.” Other Day School winners who received certificates and monetary awards included sophomore Presley Mohler, second place and freshmen Cassidy Goebel and Lauren Goebel tied for third place. For the past nineteen years, US speech teacher Marjan LaGrange has encouraged her students to enter. In each of those years, EDS has had award winners in the local competition.  The Voice of Democracy competition provides high school students the opportunity to write and record a broadcast script on a patriotic theme, competing for more than $2 million in college scholarships and incentives. State winners receive an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C. to enjoy our nation’s capital and compete for $149,000 in scholarships—first place receiving a $30,000 scholarship.