AUBURN — Auburn Veterans of Foreign Wars Post Commander Keith Davis has announced that Voice of Democracy essay contest post winners are Elijah T. Breton, junior at Poland Regional High School, and Marina A. Affo, sophomore at Lewiston High School. There were no entrants from Auburn high schools.

Students competed by writing and recording a three- to five-minute essay expressing their views of this year’s patriotic theme, “Does My Generation have a Role in America’s Future.”

The winners each won $200 in cash and prizes and were advanced to the District 9 competition. Breton finished second in the district.

The Patriots Pen essay contest for grades six to eight was won by Emily L. Wentworth, eighth-grader at Bruce M. Whittier Middle School in Poland. The requirements were a 300- to 400-word essay on the theme “Does Patriotism Still Matter.” There were no entries from the Auburn Middle School.

The post winners and their families are invited to a special youth awards banquet at the VFW Post, 588 Minot Ave., at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 9.