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

Veterans of Foreign Wars, VFW, is dedicated to promoting patriotism and investing in
our 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.

Voice of Democracy
Established in 1947, the Voice of Democracy audio-essay program provides high school
students with the unique opportunity to express themselves in a patriotic-themed,
recorded essay. Last year, nearly 28,000 students in 9 th through 12 th grades from across
the country participated in the contest to win a share of the $1.6 million in scholarships
and incentives. 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: “What a Veteran Taught Me About America.”
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
2026-2027 entry form here, Voice of Democracy Entry Form. 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 60,000 students in 6 th through 8 th grades 8 entered VFW’s Patriot’s Pen
youth essay contest. This year’s theme is, “What A Veteran Taught Me About America.”
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. The national
first-place national award is currently $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 patriotic theme chosen by the VFW
Commander-In-Chief.

Before submitting your essay, contact your sponsoring post,
https://www.vfw.org/findapost, and let them know your intentions, then download the
download the 2026-2027 entry form here, Patriot's Pen Entry Form. 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.
https://www.vfw.org/community/youth-and-education/youth-scholarships