Walled Lake Central’s Mercer Gathers wins VFW Voice of Democracy essay contest

Walled Lake Central senior Mercer Gathers has been selected as the winner of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Voice of Democracy essay contest for VFW Post 1519 of Novi and Northville. 

Gathers’ winning entry will now advance to the VFW District level competition in mid-January 2026, where he will find out if he moves on to the state level competition for a chance to earn a $1,000 scholarship.

The VFW awards more than 2,600 youth scholarships annually worth more than $1.4 million. Along with the state winning prize, a national first place winner will also receive a $35,000 scholarship.