VFW National Commander Duane Sarmiento was joined by VFW Auxiliary President Carla Martinez to announce this year’s national Voice of Democracy first place winner, Sophia Lin, and present her with the top $35,000 T.C. Selman Memorial Scholarship first place prize. Lin, a high school junior at BASIS Scottsdale in Scottsdale, Arizona, was sponsored by Scottsdale VFW Post 3513. She delivered her winning essay on this year’s theme, “What Are the Greatest Attributes of Our Democracy?” during the ceremony.