Cassopolis junior Noah Woods finished fifth in the Michigan Voice of Democracy Essay Contest sponsored by the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

This year’s theme was “Why I’m Optimistic About Our Nation’s Future.”

Woods entered the essay contest through Cassopolis’ Lt. William E. Losier VFW Post 10704.

After winning the local contest and at the district level, Woods competed in the state competition, which was held in Kalamazoo in March.

Woods attended the state competition with his parents, Stephen and Robyn Woods, as well as with his younger sister, Elizabeth, and the 11 other district winners from around the state.

Woods has won the local Voice of Democracy Essay Contest each of the past three years.

He has won numerous academic awards, including the Academic Excellence Award in history, and is a member of the National Honor Society.

Woods has lettered in four sports at Cassopolis High School — soccer, football, basketball and track — and was named first team All-Lakeland Conference in football last fall.

He serves on the Michigan Gateway Community Foundation’s Youth Advisory Council, which provides volunteer and community service for the youth of Berrien and Cass counties.

Woods also has spent time as a coach for the local youth basketball league and as an official for the Southwest Michigan Optimist Soccer League.

Last summer, Woods traveled to New York to intern for state assemblyman Keith Wright’s Harlem office.

This summer he will attend the Yale Young Global Scholars Program in New Haven, Connecticut.