AUBURN – Donald W. Linscott Jr., chairman of the Auburn Veterans of Foreign Wars 58th annual Voice of Democracy scholarship competition, is asking that all high school students in the Auburn area interested in the essay contest contact him for an application.

The national award will include a trip to Washington, D.C., and a four-day trip to the “Spirit of America” Youth Conference hosted by the Freedoms Foundation and VFW at Valley Forge, Pa.

Students write and record a three- to five-minute audio essay expressing their views of “Celebrating Our Veterans’ Service.” The Auburn VFW is responsible for entries from Edward Little and St. Dominic Regional high schools as well as Auburn home-schooled students in grades nine to 12.

The two winners of the Auburn competition will receive $200 in bonds and prizes and advance to the District 9 contest, vying against winners from Lewiston, Lisbon, Monmouth, Canton, Jay, South Paris and Rumford. District prizes are $150, $75 and $50.

The district winner will advance to the state, competing against the other 11 districts in Maine. Maine VFW awards $1,500, $800 and $500 scholarships. Every entrant in the state contest will be awarded at least a $100 U.S. savings bond and the winner will go to Washington to compete for a $25,000 scholarship. All those winners will receive at least a $1,000 national scholarship

Interested students should contact Linscott at 784-3024 or VFW Post 1603 at 783-2561 from 2 to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

All entrants will have the availability of the VFW computer and arrangements can be made to assist in taping if needed. All scripts and tapes must be in the chairman’s hands by Nov. 1.