Angels Camp, CA…Bret Harte Senior Savannah Wittman took first place in the Veterans of Foreign Wars Voices of Democracy speech contest. Her speech (audio recording attached) addressed the theme: My Responsibility to America. Her first place speech earned her $2000 and a trip to Washington D.C. the last week of February to represent the VFW Department of California as one of 52 high schools students who will compete for the $30,000 national award.

Savannah had won at the local VFW post level, who then sponsored her competition at the district level. In winning District 13, Savannah then joined the other 14 district winners in Sacramento this past weekend where the the 2nd-5th place winners were awarded $1000 a piece and the 6th-15th placed speeches were awarded $500.

James D. Piper Post 12118 commander Al Gilbert just knew when they heard her speech that it would be the winner, “she did a wonderful job and we are all so proud of her.”

“I am so honored to have been here both years Savannah has competed at the State level,” said Bret Harte US History teacher Jennifer Truman. “For years I have tried to get my students to enter this contest and even though I had one student prior to Savannah give an attempt, Savannah is the first to really take it on seriously.”

Savannah’s first attempt, 2015-16 earned her a trip to Sacramento and a 1st runner-up place with her speech “My Vision for America”.

“When she placed so close to #1 last year she was determined to do it again,” stated Truman. “As soon as she knew this years theme she started working on it and obviously her diligence worked out.”

In addition to the support Wittman received from her teacher and parents, she is also greatly appreciative of the assistance from David Duggan, Director of the Bret Harte Performing Arts Center who helped her with the recording of her speech.

The speech competition is actually done as an audio recording and judging is done based on the recorded speech submitted.

Savannah’s winning speech, “My Responsibility to America” highlighted: selfless serving to others, patriotism, family, our nations history of patriotic military service,and faith.

Information about the VFW Voices of Democracy Contest: http://www.vfw.org/community/youth-and-education/youth-scholarships