Spotlight on Education: St. Stephen

BRADENTON – Saint Stephen’s Episcopal School sophomore Joseph Schneider has been selected as the winner of the Voice of Democracy Essay Contest hosted by the Veterans of Foreign Wars. The Lakewood Ranch resident came across the award while searching for scholarship opportunities and decided to give it a shot.

After submitting his essay, Schneider received a phone call informing him that he had won first place not only for the local VFW Bradenton post,  but for the entire district as well, which included more than 200 applicants.

“Joseph Schneider is not only a great student, but he is also very involved in our Saint Stephen’s Ambassador program,” said Dr. Janet Pullen, Head of School at Saint Stephen’s Episcopal School. “He regularly attends community events and is an overall model student. This is a great program and award, and we are very excited to have one of our own selected as the winner of this prestigious scholarship.”

The essay contest required a written and recorded broadcast script on an annual patriotic theme. The VFW founded the Voice ofDemocracy program in 1947 in order to provide students in high school with the opportunity to earn scholarships and express themselves in regards to democratic ideals and principals. Each year, more than 50,000 students across the nation enter the contest to win a share in $2.3 million in educational scholarships.

Schneider received the award during a special presentation on at the Bradenton VFW post on December 17.