CARIBOU, Maine — Owen Martin is the second Caribou High School student in the last two years to win the state-level of the VFW’s Voice of Democracy contest. For his efforts, Martin earned $2,000 along with a trip to Washington D.C. to compete on the national level.
CHS student Corinne Corbin won the state competition in 2016 and took the trip to D.C. in late February.
Martin said his winning essay focuses on “hope for the future,” and that instead of citing historical events, he referenced role models throughout the country’s history and the inspiration they have provided the nation, including Martin Luther King, Jr., Rosa Parks, and Abraham Lincoln.
Martin said he reinforced his thesis of optimism with a quote from Lincoln: “We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses.”
Regarding the country’s current political situation, Martin said he wishes he could be more optimistic and that “It’s hard with the way things are right now.”
As a silver lining, he said some of the negative changes occurring within the country may “get people to realize that some things are wrong with our current political landscape, and that could swing us back into moving forward in a good way.”
Martin said the initial euphoria and excitement over his winning the state competition has settled, adding that “it’s still very exciting, but less overwhelming now.”
He said he was at a statewide event when he learned he’d won first place, and that the narrowing down of finalists was tense.
“We’d just eaten, and they announced the winners in the order of district, skipping over the top three,” Martin said. “We’re district one, so I was pretty excited when they started with district three. They announced the third place winner, and then the runner-up and I were freaking out a little bit because we’d win a trip to Washington, D.C., which is a big deal.”
Martin said he was confident about his essay, but still surprised to win best in the state.
“I knew my essay definitely had a shot,” he said, “but there are so many people in the state. I thought, is mine really the best out of 1,000 plus participants in the state?”
According to Martin, one individual spoke on behalf of the judges, and explained very generally how they determined the winner.
“He said there were three essays that really ran away from [the field],” Martin said, “and that within the top three, I won by one point over the runner-up.”
Martin’s AP U.S. History teacher, Allison Ladner, said she was thrilled to learn that another one of her students had won the trip to D.C..
“They really get to interact with, and meet people from other states,” Ladner said. “It was a life altering experience for [Corbin], so I’m really excited that Owen will now have the same opportunity.”
Ladner added that the contest is a “good tie to the community to keep us involved with the VFW, and them involved with us.”
While Ladner has taught two state winners, she said she doesn’t think their victories are a testament to her teaching abilities.
“It’s certainly not just me,” she said. “I think it’s a collective effort.”
“That was your chance to brag,” Martin joked.
As far as the $2,000 prize is concerned, Martin said he plans on spending a small amount on books, and will put the rest away.
The winner of the national contest will receive a $30,000 scholarship to the school of his or her choice and, regardless of whether or not he wins nationally, Martin said he would like to attend the University of Maine at Orono and pursue a teaching degree.
“They offer a good teaching program,” he said, “and they’re in-state. I’ve been there through school activities, and I really like the feel of their campus.”
