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VFW Honors Haldane Students
 | | Pictured, left to right: Jeff Rizzi, Michele Grasso, Matt Pergamo and Alex Mc Conville. Picture by Rick Godsey |
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On December 22 the Veterans of Foreign Wars held a Pizza Party for Voice of Democracy winners and our recent Leadership -Scholarship winner. Students Alex McConville, Matt Pergamo and Jeffrey Rizzi won the competition at Haldane High School. Michelle Grasso was the winner of the Leadership and $1000 Scholarship presented at Haldane’s graduation last June.
The Voice of Democracy (VOD) scholarship program, created in 1947, is an audioessay contest for high school students in grades 9 -12 that annually provides more than $3 million in scholarships. The first place winner on the national level receives a$30,000 scholarship. The VOD program is endorsed by the National Association of Secondary Principals and is designed to foster patriotism by allowing students the opportunity to voice their opinion in a three to five minute essay. This year the theme was Freedom’s Challenges.
Parents, siblings and VFW members also attended the affair. After the pizza treat all three students read their essays. The level of writing for juniors in high school was outstanding. Parents and VFW members beamed with pride as students spoke. Matt Pergamo placed second at the Putnam County VFW level. Each student was presented a VOD Certificate and a check for $200 - just in time for Christmas shopping.
Also attending the celebration was Michelle Grasso and her family. Michelle spoke about her experiences at Geneseo College. Her transition from high school seems to be most successful, speaking about her various courses and the many new friends she has made. After the evening’s activities were over pictures of the students and VFW members were taken by Rick Godsey . These will serve as a poignant memory to parents and VFW members for years to come.
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