T-L Photo/GAGE VOTA Martins Ferry High School senior Lakyn Call holda $750 check from the Belmont County Democratic Party’s annual scholarship as her parents and brother celebrate with her. L-R Lakyn Call’s brother Kade Call, mother Jen Call, and father Chas Call.

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — Two Belmont County seniors were awarded the Belmont County Democratic Party’s annual scholarship.

Shadyside High School senior Lexi Seszko and Martins Ferry High School senior Lakyn Call each received $750 to help cover college costs this fall.

Scholarship applicants were asked to write an essay on a political or governmental topic of their choice. To be eligible, students had to be high school seniors residing in Belmont County and registered Democrats. Applicants also were required to have at least a 3.0 grade-point average and be enrolled or planning to enroll as full-time college students pursuing four-year degrees.

Seszko has a 4.0 GPA and will attend Ohio University to study speech-language and hearing pathology.

She wrote her essay about what she described as a new era of responsibility to vote as Democrats.

“I talked about supporting everybody who’s going to run in the Democratic Party, because I think it’s very important that we support them,” she said. “I think it’s important because we need change.”

In her essay, Seszko said she believes Generation Z has a responsibility to “roll up its sleeves” and help restore democracy.

“Let’s stand together and march in protest of the cruelty and corruption we have lived under the current president’s reign of destruction,” Seszko wrote. “Let’s stand together to lift up the state of Ohio so that we can no longer be known as a derogatory phrase, ‘that’s so Ohio.'”

She added that when thinking about her heritage, she wonders what her ancestors would think.

Seszko said she comes from a family of union supporters because unions provide good-paying jobs to people of all races, religions and sexual orientations.

Call also will attend Ohio University in the fall and plans to major in early childhood education.

Her essay focused on the role social media plays in students’ lives today.

“I talked about social media and how it can have negative and positive, like, impact on kids, and how schools should talk about that more often, so it can help students’ mental health,” Call said. “Schools can play an important role by teaching students about responsible social media use.”

She added that lessons on digital citizenship, online safety and mental health can help students understand how social media affects them.

“The government can support policies that protect students online and promote safer platforms,” Call wrote in her essay. “As a valedictorian and future elementary education major, I want to help students build confidence both in and out of the classroom.”

She added that she wants to teach students how to use social media in a safe, positive and healthy way.

Belmont County Democratic Party member and St. Clairsville attorney Michael Shaheen said this year saw the highest number of submissions since the scholarship was created.

“I don’t know if it’s the political climate or the financial climate, but we’ve got more interest this time, we had probably 12 to 15 applications. Originally we only had three to five, so interest has increased,” Shaheen said. “I think it’s important that young folks become aware of their political surroundings, regardless of party. I think it’s important for young folks to pay attention to worldly events, governmental actions, and governmental agencies. So if, by giving a scholarship, we’re able to get some young people here in the valley to look in that direction by way of participating in this process, submitting the essays. I think that’s a success.”

He added that college is expensive, so he is glad to help Seszko and Call offset the cost of continuing their education.

Vice Chairwoman Grace Hoffman said the party evaluates all applications based on students’ GPAs, essays and Democratic voter registration status.

Hoffman said she believes the scholarship is important because it helps foster the next generation of Democrats in the community.

“They’re our future and that basically sums it up. And I believe we’re the party of fairness, kindness, goodness, and wisdom,” Hoffman said.