From left, Larry Schlittler, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4714 commander; Ren Burkit, Northampton Area High School 11th-grader and first-place winner of the VFW post-level Voice of Democracy contest; Sarah Fritz, NAHS 12th-grader and second-place winner of the VFW post-level contest; and Jerry Batcha, NAHS social studies teacher and NAHS Voice of Democracy adviser, gather for a group photo during an awards ceremony, held Dec. 5, 2020, at Samuel Owens Restaurant, 128 Chestnut St., Coplay. Not pictured is Caroline Gray, NAHS 11th-grader and also a VFW post-level Voice of Democracy winner. The 2020 essay contest theme was “Is This the Country the Founders Envisioned?” Fritz went on to win first place at the VFW District 20 level and will compete next at the state level. The winners at the ceremony received a scholarship check, a jacket with the VFW Post 4714 logo and a Voice of Democracy transit messenger protective bag and organizer for laptops, tablets and other items.