PUTNAM —  A local girl was the first-place winner of the Department of Connecticut Veterans of Foreign Wars’ 2016-2017 Voice of Democracy contest. 

This year’s theme was “My Responsibility to America.”

Meghan Hebert, a senior at Killingly High School, sponsored by VFW Post & Auxiliary 1523 of Putnam, took first.

Meghan Hebert, will move on to compete with all other state winners across the country for a $30,000 scholarship that is paid directly to the recipient’s American university, college or vocational/technical school.  

Hebert will submit a recording of her reading her essay for the national competition.  Over $153,000 is awarded at the national level with each participant receiving at least $1,000.  The event takes place in Washington D.C. every February.  

In addition, Hebert will be invited to attend the Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge’s Spirit of America Youth Leadership Program held in June 2017.  

The weekend long program is designed exclusively for VOD winners and offers them a chance to renew their friendships created in Washington DC as well as visit sites where our nation’s founding fathers began their journey into democracy.