Patriot's Pen
What is Patriot's Pen?
Conducted nationwide, this VFW-sponsored youth essay competition gives
students an opportunity to write essays expressing their views on an annual
patriotic theme. We invite you to join the more than 120,000 students who
participated last year in this contest. The national winners will receive at least
$500. The first-place national award is currently $5,000 plus an all-expense paid
trip to Washington, D.C., for the winner and a parent or guardian.
The National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) has again
approved this contest for its National Advisory List of Contests and Activities.
patriotic theme. We invite you to join the more than 120,000 students who
participated last year in this contest. The national winners will receive at least
$500. The first-place national award is currently $5,000 plus an all-expense paid
trip to Washington, D.C., for the winner and a parent or guardian.
The National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) has again
approved this contest for its National Advisory List of Contests and Activities.
The Voice of Democracy Program
What is The Voice of Democracy Program?
Since 1947, the Voice of Democracy has been the Veterans of Foreign
Wars’ (VFW’s) premier scholarship program. Each year, nearly 40,000
high school students compete for more than $2 million in scholarships
and incentives. Students compete by writing and recording an audio
essay on an annual patriotic theme. This year’s theme is, What Makes
America Great.
Wars’ (VFW’s) premier scholarship program. Each year, nearly 40,000
high school students compete for more than $2 million in scholarships
and incentives. Students compete by writing and recording an audio
essay on an annual patriotic theme. This year’s theme is, What Makes
America Great.
Continuing Scholarship Education
The VFW Auxiliary is pleased to present scholarships to assist members and their immediate family members who wish to further their education by pursing a college degree or career direction at a vocational/technical school.
Four $1,000 scholarships will be awarded each year, one in each of the four VFW Auxiliary Conferences.
The scholarship will be paid directly to the American college or vocational/technical school of the awardee’s choice.
• Applicant must be one of the following:
• Current VFW Auxiliary Member*
• Spouse of current VFW Auxiliary Member*
• Son of current VFW Auxiliary Member*
• Daughter of current VFW Auxiliary Member*
*Qualifying member must have been a member of the VFW Auxiliary for one (1) year by the application submission deadline.
The Patriotic Art Contest
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Who is Eligible to Apply?
- Any student in grades 9-12 who is enrolled in a public, private or parochial high school or home study program in the United States.
- Maximum student age of 18 at time of local entry.
- Student must be a U.S. citizen or U.S. national.
- Applicant does not have to be related to a VFW or VFW Auxiliary member to participate, but the student must attend school in the same state as the sponsoring VFW Auxiliary.
National Awards for Auxiliaries
- Most outstanding activity and/or event educating their community about the scholarship opportunities in the VFW and the VFW Auxiliary.
- Citation and $25 to one VFW Auxiliary in each of the 10 Program Divisions that hosts the most outstanding activity and/or event educating their community about scholarship opportunities in the VFW and the VFW Auxiliary.
Entry form required and available in MALTA Member Resources (Link Here). VFW Auxiliaries must send the required entry form to their Department Scholarships Chairman by March 31, 2025 for judging.
Citations will be mailed directly to the winning VFW Auxiliaries from National Headquarters and money will be deposited into the winning VFW Auxiliary account after the 2025 VFW Auxiliary National Convention
