VFW Sparks Patriotism with $35,000 and $5,000 Scholarships for Young Voices

Veterans of Foreign Wars, VFW, is dedicated to promoting patriotism and investing in the future generation. If you are a patriotic high school student interested in a $35,000 college scholarship or a patriotic middle school student interested in a $5,000 college scholarship, this contest may be for you. There are two separate contests.

Established in 1947, the Voice of Democracy program provides high school students with the unique opportunity to express themselves in a patriotic-themed, recorded essay. Last year, nearly 27,000 students in grades 9 through 12 participated in the contest. The top three prizes were $35,000, $21,000 and $15,000 with many other prizes awarded.

Students can compete in the new contest by writing and recording an audio essay on this year’s patriotic theme of: “How Are You Showing Patriotism and Support for Our Country?”

Prizes and scholarships can be awarded at the Post, District, Department and national level. Department winners receive an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C., to tour the city, to be honored by VFW and VFW Auxiliary, and to receive their portion of national awards, to be paid directly to the recipient’s American university, college or vocational/technical school.

Before submitting your essay, contact your sponsoring post, https://www.vfw.org/findapost and let them know your intentions, then download the 2025-2026 entry form here, https://shorturl.at/YBpqs. Submit the entry form directly to the sponsoring post for review. Applications and recorded essays must be turned in to the sponsoring post by midnight, October 31st.

Last year, nearly 62,000 students in grades 6 through 8 entered VFW’s Patriot’s Pen youth essay contest. This year’s theme is, "“How Are You Showing Patriotism and Support for Our Country?” Prizes and scholarships can be awarded at the Post, District, Department and national level. Department winners receive a portion of $55,000 in national awards with the first-place winner receiving $5,000!

The essay contest encourages young minds to examine America’s history, along with their own experiences in modern American society, by drafting a 300- to 400-word essay, expressing their views based on the chosen patriotic theme.

Before submitting your essay, contact your sponsoring post, https://www.vfw.org/findapost and let them know your intentions, then download the download the 2025-2026 entry form here, https://shorturl.at/YZUfr. Submit the entry form and essay directly to the sponsoring post for review. Applications must be turned in by midnight, October 31st.

NOTE: Students can be home-schooled, can attend public, private or parochial schools in the U.S., its territories or its possessions; or can be dependents of U.S. military or civilian personnel in overseas schools. Students must be U.S. citizens or lawful U.S. permanent residents. A teacher or youth group/club adult leader can supervise the contest.

For more information - Email: youthscholarships@vfw.org or Call: 816-968-2787.