Newtown High School senior Brittany Pearson has reason to be proud. The student is the first Newtown-based winner of the national Voice of Democracy program for her audio essay "Why I'm Optimistic About Our Nation's Future."
Principal Charles Dumais and representatives from Newtown VFW Post 308 presented Pearson with a plaque Tuesday at Newtown High School. Her audio essay goes on to Connecticut's District 1 for the next round of competition. If she wins at the state level, she will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C. to compete for a $50,000 college scholarship.
"The roots of patriotism are in Brittany’s family,' said VFW Post 308 representatives. "Her grandfather was a member of the US Air Force and served at the Pentagon in the late 50’s and early 60s."
Pearson enjoys horseback riding at Sabills Morgan Horse Farm in Southbury and has supported letter-writing activities for troops and the annual Veterans Day luncheon at NHS. She is also a member of the school's theatre crew.
"Brittany was honored when she was asked to help care for and train the
horses for a Navy helicopter pilot who owns horses at Sabills," said the VFW in a release. "When the pilot was deployed overseas in the Middle East for a year, she wanted someone trustworthy to care for her horses. Brittany was humbled and proud to help out."
Pearson hopes to attend Emerson College in Boston or Ithaca College in New York, and plans to study theatre, media and communications.
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