VFW Opens Annual Youth Patriotic Scholarship Contests

THE PROGRAMS AWARD MORE THAN $3 MILLION TO MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
 
April 13, 2022
 
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) is now accepting entries for its 2022-23 Voice of Democracy and Patriot’s Pen youth scholarship competitions. America’s high school students will be required to answer, “Why Is the Veteran Important?” while middle school students will have the opportunity to declare, “My Pledge to Our Veterans.”
 
2019 Voice of Democracy participants wait on stage to see who will win the $30,000 top first place prize. Encouraging a better understanding and appreciation for America, the VFW’s Voice of Democracy and Patriot’s Pen essay competitions help foster patriotism among today’s youth. The programs also offer friendly competition as well as reward success in the form of individual scholarships totaling more than $3 million.
 
The Voice of Democracy audio-essay competition is open to all students in grades 9-12, with the top national prize scholarship totaling $30,000. Nearly 25,000 high school students compete in the annual competition. This year’s winner, Daniela Mare, was sponsored by VFW Post 9486 and its Auxiliary in Centereach, New York. Listen to her award-winning audio-essay here.
 
Open to all students in grades 6-8, more than 68,800 students participate annually in the Patriot’s Pen essay competition. Syed Ali, the 2021-2022 Patriot’s Pen first place winner, was sponsored by VFW Post 521 and its Auxiliary in New Iberia, Louisiana. Listen to his award-winning entry here.
 
Student entries may be submitted (along with a completed entry form) to their local participating VFW Post. The deadline for both contests is Oct. 31, 2022.
 
VFW Post 8879 Valley Junction West Des Moines IA would love to receive your essay. If you are thinking about a college and want to find ways to pay for it. This is an easy essay to complete and has a chance to earn a cash prize at each level of the contest.