HERKIMER — Herkimer Central School District senior Isabella Vredenburg was recently recognized for her success in the Veterans of Foreign Wars’ Voice of Democracy audio essay competition.

Vredenburg won the Voice of Democracy competition at the district level, through the VFW Michael S. Pliseck Post 4915 in Herkimer. At the state level, she came in fourth.

The theme for this year’s Voice of Democracy competition was “what a veteran means to me.” Herkimer students in the 12th grade who take social studies with teacher Laura Scalise wrote and recorded audio essays for the contest.

Vredenburg and Herkimer senior Ann Zhao were both selected to advance to the local competition, and Zhao was also recognized during the event at the VFW in Herkimer.