As the state's first-place winner in the N.C. Veterans of Foreign Wars Voice of Democracy competition, Samuel J. Johnson receives a $2,000 scholarship from the VFW North Carolina State Department and an additional $1,000 from the VFW Past State Commander James Black Foundation.
Johnson will receive his award at the VFW State Council of Administration Meeting at the North Raleigh Hilton on Friday, Feb. 5. As part of that day's event, he will also meet Gov. Bev Perdue and tour the state Capitol, tour the N.C. State Legislature Building, and visit the N.C. Museum of History. He will be joined by second- and third-place Voice of Democracy winners and three Patriots Pen competition winners.
"We are very proud to have a student from Chapel Hill win the statewide Voice of Democracy competition," said Lee Heavlin, VFW post commander, C.V. Cummings Chapel Hill Post 9100. "His entry was a delight to listen to. It was insightful, heartfelt and well presented. We look forward to hearing Samuel present it again in Raleigh."
The Voice of Democracy competition began in 1947. Each year, more than 100,000 students compete for $3 million in scholarships and incentives. Notable previous winners include Charles Kuralt, former Miss America Anita Bryant, and former U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft.
The Voice of Democracy competition is an annual event sponsored by local VFW Post 9100 and is open to all students in grades 9-12.
