We Award Scholarships!

Hannah received a $1000 scholarship from our chapter for her essay, which she read at our annual meeting on June 10th. Here is Hannah's essay:

As American citizens, nobody else has more power than us to choose our leaders, those who make

decisions impacting our lives, communities, and nation. Whether you're passionate about animal rights,

immigration policies, free healthcare, or any other cause, voting is an impactful way to contribute to

building the world you want to see. It’s easy to underestimate the significance our individual votes

have, but today, as a fellow American who cherishes liberty and democracy, I implore you to consider

how important voting is and to cast a ballot in the next election.

Do you ever find yourself thinking, "My vote won't make a difference, so why bother?" It's a thought

many share, but that mindset won’t serve you well in life. Imagine applying this logic to everything else in

life - you might as well sit on your couch and do nothing, since mundane daily activities wouldn’t have a

“big enough” impact to matter. But consider this: one question on a homework assignment will not

determine your grade, one workout won’t transform your fitness, and one hour of work unfortunately

won’t cover your student loans. Yet, we do each of these small actions as a step toward a larger goal.

Similarly, our votes, though seemingly small in isolation, are part of a collective effort to shape the future

we want to see.

Let's align our actions with our values. If we're willing to take small steps to improve our personal lives,

shouldn't we extend the same dedication to our nation, a country for which countless people have

sacrificed their lives? What was the point of Americans fighting for suffrage if we aren’t willing to exercise

our hard-earned right to vote? The very definition of democracy depends on the active participation of its

citizens. If we want our democracy to thrive, then each and every one of us must embrace the

responsibility to vote.

And your individual vote holds more influence than you might realize. Why? Peer pressure is powerful. If

your best friend proudly showed you their “I Voted” sticker, wouldn’t you want one too? Or if your

respected older sibling shared their reasons for supporting a particular candidate, wouldn't it inspire you

to make your voice heard as well? Just as others' actions influence us, our actions also influence others.

So be a positive role model and cast your ballot. Your little pebble of a vote will assuredly make a ripple in

the community pool, supporting a culture of civic engagement.

So, let's reject the idea that our votes don't matter, and instead embrace the power it holds to shape our

government and society. Please recognize that democracy is not a spectator sport—it requires our active

engagement and participation. By choosing leaders who share our values and priorities, we can ensure the

government is made for the people, by the people. In the upcoming election, I urge you to cast an

educated vote. You might be surprised at its threefold influence on our country, the people around you,

and yourself.

Jenna received a $1000 scholarship from our chapter for her essay:

The implementation of participatory democracy is foundational to our past, present and future America. Many teenagers today desire to be an influencer and impact their communities, yet many of us cannot be bothered to shoulder our responsibility and vote. Voting can have both local and national impact. Voting for members of the Board of Education at our local elections directly impacts the climate of our schools. This can determine class offerings, policies and procedures. 

In the case of my school recently, voters determined that my school system would merge with a neighboring one to become regionalized. Even on a national level, the changes that were made to the FAFSA have directly affected every senior in high school who has applied to financial aid for college next year. Registering to vote is a simple process that only takes a few minutes, but can have widespread impact on teenagers within the schools and across our nation. 

The American Revolution was fought to create a true republic, a society where the people

and their elected officials hold supreme power in the government. Tens of thousands of soldiers laid down their lives for the right to keep their government accountable for its actions. It took just shy of a century to allow non-white males to have the right to vote, and then another half century for females to be recognized as equal under the eyes of the law and be granted suffrage alongside our male counterparts. By failing to take advantage of our hard-earned voting rights, we waste the blood of our forefathers. 

Abraham Lincoln famously described our government in his Gettysburg Address as “...of the people, by the people, and for the people”. Yet this way of governing hinges on the willingness of the people to participate in government processes, whether local or national. We have the duty to prot\est the government when we believe it is going astray, and to vote the most qualified candidate into office. But we must remember, the betterment of America is in our hands. By doing so, we continue a path of republicanism. The success or failure of our nation depends on our willingness to take up our responsibilities as a people. Jordan Peterson has explained that distributed responsibility and power is the time-tested antidote to tyranny. By voting, we resist totalitarianism and become agents in our lives and communities. Responsibilities that our society abdicates will otherwise be taken up and used against us. Truly,

future America is malleable by voters, or lack thereof.

In conclusion, America was founded on the ideology of the supremacy of the people. If leaders gain their authority from voters, then it must be recognized that every vote is immeasurably important. However, if the people do not take their place as the supreme power, America may cease to exist as we know it. I encourage all of my peers to register to vote and prioritize voting as the greatest way to be an influencer in our society.