Texas relevance: McKinney resident wins state-level VFW essay contest

Lauren Bellatti, 18, was recently honored in Austin as the state's first place winner for the Voice of Democracy Patriotic Audio-Essay Competition sponsored by the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

She was initially chosen as a finalist at the Farmersville VFW Post 7426 and then recognized as the state winner.

Lauren achieved the recognition with her essay, "Is Our Constitution still Relevant?"

"My primary focus when writing was that the Constitution provides a protection and a hope of liberty that is unparalleled anywhere else in the world; the Constitution provides the principles for which so many sons, husbands, brothers, grandfathers, classmates give their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honors," Lauren said. "My essay centers around the fact that I believe our United States Constitution not only birthed this nation, it upholds this nation. Therefore, it is still relevant."

The Voice of Democracy competition began in 1947 and is the premier VFW educational scholarship program. Each year, more than 50,000 high school students compete for more than $2.3 million in scholarships and incentives. Awards and prizes vary at the post and district level.

Texas state-level winners this year received between $1,000 and $10,000. State champions also receive an all-expense-paid trip to Washington D.C. and a trip to Valley Forge, Penn., for a leadership summit sponsored by Freedoms Foundation. The state level awards the top 10 contestants scholarships ranging from $1,500 to $10,000. At the national level, $152,000 in scholarships was awarded, ranging from $1,000 to $30,000. Students compete annually by writing and recording a patriotic-themed essay and submitting it to a VFW post.

Lauren lives in McKinney with her parents, Chuck and Melinda Bellatti, and brother, Nate. She is student council president for her homeschooled organization, service activities director for National Honor Society, yearbook co-editor, senior class secretary, and is playing Belle in a "Beauty & the Beast" production. Her personal interests are working as a nanny, reading, theater, spending time with friends and volunteering at her church, Bent Tree Bible Fellowship. Lauren's previous awards and achievements include Eta Sigma Alpha National Home School Honor Society, American Legion Oratorical Contest District 4 Champion and Division 4 Runner Up.

She plans to attend Oklahoma State University to pursue a degree in strategic communications and minor in political science. When asked of her career goals, Lauren said, "I hope to be on the communications team [or] a campaign manager of a senator on either a state or national level."

Local high school students may obtain an entry form with qualifications and instructions for recording their own three- to five-minute essay on a standard cassette tape or CD by contacting the McKinney VFW. Information and entry forms can be found at www.vfw.org.

The theme for this year's essay is "Why I'm Optimistic About Our Nation's Future" and must be submitted at the post level by 12 a.m. Nov. 1. McKinney VFW Post 2150 is located at 1710 N. Church St. in McKinney.

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