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Youth Scholarships

The VFW is dedicated to promoting patriotism and investing in our future generation. If you are a democracy-loving high school student interested in a $35,000 college scholarship or a patriotic middle school student interested in winning $5,000, these scholarships may be for you.

Voice of Democracy

Established in 1947, our Voice of Democracy audio-essay program provides high school students with the unique opportunity to express themselves in regards to a democratic and patriotic-themed recorded essay.  Each year, nearly 25,000 ninth through 12th grade students from across the country enter to win their share of more than $1 million in educational scholarships and incentives awarded through the program. 

The national first place winner receives a $35,000 scholarship paid directly to the recipient’s American university, college or vocational/technical school. A complete list of other national scholarships range from $1,000-$21,000, and the first place winner from each VFW Department (state) wins at least a scholarship of $1,000. Before submitting your essay, download the  2024-2025 entry form here  and find your sponsoring  local VFW Post  as applications must be turned in by  midnight, Oct. 31 . 

The 2024-25 theme is:  "Is America Today Our Forefathers' Vision?"

About the 2023-2024 winner ...

Sophia Lin, a high school junior at BASIS Scottsdale in Scottsdale, Arizona, was named the 2023-2024 Voice of Democracy first place winner. Sophia's speech on the theme, "What Are the Greatest Attributes of Our Democracy?" won her a $35,000 college scholarship. Sophia was sponsored by Scottsdale VFW Post 3513. Watch as Sophia delivered her speech during the VFW's Parade of Winners award  ceremony or read it here .

Want to catch up on everything that happened this year? You can watch the full Parade of Winners ceremony which was streamed live on Facebook, or see this year's complete list of winners .

Patriot's Pen

Each year, nearly 68,800 students in sixth through eighth grades enter the VFW’s Patriot’s Pen youth essay contest for a chance to win their share of nearly $1 million in state and national awards. Each first place state winner receives a minimum of $500 at the national level, and the national first place winner wins $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 a patriotic theme chosen by the VFW Commander-in-Chief. Before submitting your essay,  download the 2024-2025 entry form here  and find your sponsoring local VFW Post  as applications must be turned in by  midnight, Oct. 31 . 

The 2024-25 theme is:  "My Voice in America's Democracy?"

Bryant Day, an eighth grade student from Ashland, Ohio, was named the 2023-2024 Patriot's Pen first place winner. His essay on the theme, "How Are You Inspired by America?" won the national first place $5,000 award. Bryant was sponsored by VFW Post 9943 and its Auxiliary in Mansfield, Ohio.

Watch as Bryant delivered his winning essay during the VFW's Parade of Winners streamed live on Facebook, or read  his essay here.  See the complete list of 2024 national winners .

Youth Scholarships Additional Resources

2023-2024 VOD Winners

Voice of democracy entry form, voice of democracy national scholarship listing, 2023-2024 patriot's pen winners, patriot's pen entry form, patriot's pen national scholarship listing, sponsor a youth scholarship.

Patriot's Pen Essay Contest

Ages: Middle School

Type: Submission

Scope: National

[email protected] (816) 756-3390

Participate

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.

Submit an essay based on the year's topic and requirements.

Website: https://www.vfw.org/community/youth-and-education/youth-scholarships

Managing Organization: Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW)

Contact: [email protected] (816) 756-3390

Eligibility: The Patriot's Pen program is open to students in grades 6-8 (on the October 31 deadline), who are enrolled in a public, private or parochial school or home study program in the United States and its territories.

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PATRIOT PEN

2023-2024 Patriot's Pen Essay Theme "How are you inspired by America" Each year more than 165,400 students in grades 6-8 enter the VFW’s Patriot’s Pen youth essay contest for a chance to win their share of more than $1.4 million in state and national awards. Each 1st place state winner receives a minimum of $500 at the national level, and the national first place winner wins $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 a patriotic theme chosen by the VFW Commander-in-Chief. Want to apply?  2023-2024 Patriots Pen Announcement Letter Click Here 2023-2024 Patriots Pen entry form Click here Score sheet for judging can be found here .    NOTE : PA has due dates different than those publicized by National VFW!        October 31, 2023-Student deadline Entry is midnight.        November 18, 2023 -Post judging completed.        December 3, 2023    District judging completed.        December 9, 2023   District Winner entry form, flash drive of essay, typed essay, head and shoulder photo of good quality, District summary report and District participation report must be sent to Department Chairman:    Pennsylvania VFW Patriot's Pen Chairman William (Bill) Lamond VFW Post 5207 (10) 3360 Nashotka Rd. Madison Twp, Pa.  18444 570-241-5875 [email protected]     December 11, 2023-Department judging  January 15, 2024-Department Winner and Reports submitted to VFW National HQ January 20, 2024-Annual Voice of Democracy Banquet-DoubleTree by Hilton-Pittsburgh Cranberry

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VFW Post 3617

Wenatchee valley veterans & families, patriot’s pen & youth essay.

Each year more than 132,000 students in grades 6-8 enter the VFW’s Patriot’s Pen youth essay contest. 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 a patriotic theme chosen by the VFW Commander-in-Chief.

The national first-place winner receives $5,000 and an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C. The first-place winner from each state competes for national awards totaling $54,500, with each first-place state winner receiving a minimum of $500 at the national level.

How to enter

The Theme for 2023 is: “How Are You Inspired by America?”

Review the [ Rules & Eligibility ]. Download the [ entry form ]. Complete the form and submit it with the written essay to our Post by 31 Oct 2023 . Entries can be mailed in or dropped off during open hours.

Past Winners

2021 – “How Can I Be a Good American?”

2020 – “What is Patriotism to Me?” 1 st : Rachel Carter, Valley Academy of Learning, Wenatchee

2017 – “America’s Gift to My Generation” 1 st : Claire Countryman-Logstrom, Eastmont Jr. High 2 nd : Katelin Neff, Sterling Intermediate School 3 rd : Ella Fillion, Sterling Intermediate School

2016 – “The America I Believe In” 1 st : Colby Hull, Sterling Intermediate School 2 nd : Isaac Darlington, Sterling Intermediate School

2015 1 st : Libby Marcoux, Pioneer Middle School 2 nd : Issac Darlington, Sterling Intermediate School 3 rd : Rae Ann Dressel, Pioneer Middle School

2014 1 st : Aiden Larsen, Eastmont Jr. High 2 nd : Marissa Ann Geesey, Waterville School 3 rd : Grace B. Rodriquez, Icicle River Middle School

2013 – “What Patriotism Means to Me” 1 st : McKenzie Ayers 2 nd : Jarred Barnes 3 rd : Domonique Villeia

The Veterans of Foreign Wars, Department of Washington State offers an additional Youth Essay opportunity for students in Third, Fourth and Fifth Grades to submit a written essay of up to 250 words. There will be a Post winner FOR EACH GRADE, as well as a State Winner FOR EACH GRADE. Awards are at the discretion of the local Posts and their Auxiliaries, as are the District Awards.

The Theme for 2023 is “What does the word “Veteran” mean to you?”

Download the [ entry form ], which includes Rules & Eligibility information on page 2. Complete the form and submit it with the written essay to our Post by 31 Oct 2023 . Entries can be mailed in or dropped off during open hours.

2017 – “What Does a Veteran Mean to Me?” 1 st : Alex Anguiano, Washington Elementary 2 nd : Khloe Suppes, Waterville Elementary 3 rd : Isabela Orr, Lewis & Clark Elementary

2016 1 st : RyAnne Barnes, Clovis Elementary 2 nd : Andrea Hernandez, Lewis & Clark Elementary 3 rd : Alex Anguiano, Washington Elementary

2015 Jessalyn Alcazar, Mission View Elementary

2014 1 st : Layni Schmultzer, Grant Elementary 2 nd : Denise Sanchez, Sterling School 3 rd : Natalie Daggett, Sterling School

2013 1 st : Makenna Schwab 2 nd : Natteag Daris 3 rd : Cynthia Monravalo

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PATRIOTS PEN

DONATE TO LEE-PEARSON POST

Our programs support our service members while they are on the front line, as they are being discharged and long after they return. Your tax-deductible donation will be immediately directed to the VFW programs where your support is most urgently needed.

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VFW Post 2150 – The Lone Star Post

Patriot's Pen

Program overview, about the program.

Patriot’s Pen is Youth Scholarship written essay program that provides patriotic Middle  School students the opportunity to win a share of the $2.1 million offered in educational scholarships and incentives.

Winners Receive

National Winner receives a $5K scholarship and an all-expenses paid trip to Washington, DC.  1st Place Winner from each VFW Department wins a minimum of $500 in scholarships.  

Eligibility Criteria

• Students (grades 6-8) enrolled in a public, private, or parochial school or home study program in the United States and its territories.
• Write an essay between 300 and 400 words on the theme determined by the VFW Commander-in-Chief.
• Deadline is October 31st each year.

Judging Criteria

Knowledge of the theme is worth 30 points.  You must show a thorough knowledge of the theme in your work.  Demonstrate you have researched the issue extensively.

Theme development is worth 35 points.  Answer all relevant facts about the theme such as the who, what, where, when, and why.  Relate the theme to your own experiences.

Clarity of Ideas is worth 35 points.  Write your essay in an easy-to-understand format.  Leave your reader with a clear understanding of your explanation of the theme.

How to Apply

• Download the entry form and brochure found here .
• Bring this form and the recording to VFW Post 2150 or the post in your local area.  If you need to find a post, visit the VFW’s Post Locator .

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Fairport harbor vfw contest winners, patriot's pen.

Each year, more than 165,400 students in grades 6-8 enter the VFW’s Patriot’s Pen youth essay contest for a chance to win their share of more than $1.4 million in state and national awards. Each first-place state winner receives a minimum of $500 at the national level, and the national first-place winner wins $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 a patriotic theme chosen by the VFW Commander-in-Chief. 

VFW Contest 2/2/23

VFW  Awards - The 2021-22 theme is: 

How Can I Be a Good American?

Dan Sherwood - VFW Representative here from the Fairport Harbor VFW Post 7754

Participation: - All received a VFW Backpack:

1st place: Brooklynn Reglus

2nd place: Issac Robinson

3rd place: Rmani Pearson

2020-2021 VFW Contest Winners

2016 & 2017 Winners

Voice of democracy speech competition and patriot's pen essay competition, your browser does not support html5 video  .

Thank you to Auburn Career Center students in the Instructional Media Technology class for creating the video of our assembly. 

Please download and read our  Patriot's Pen and  Voice of Democracy  - Fall 2016 Winners

Vfw winning essays.

Patriot's Pen Winners - "The America I Believe In"

• 1st place: James Dean Spiesman
• Tierny DeGidio
• Connor Hulett
• Ryan Heller  
• Joseph Tanker

Voice of Democracy Winners - "My Responsibility to America"

• 1st place: Jessie Smith
• 2nd place: Gabby Palmer
• 3rd place: Marcus Toreki

Voice of Democracy District 7 Winner - March 25, 2017

Gabby Palmer was invited to the local VFW Saturday, March 25, 2017, for a lovely awards presentation. Gabby also won 2nd place for the entire District which encompasses 5 counties (Lake, Geauga, Ashtabula, Medina, and Cuyahoga).  She was unable to attend the District awards ceremony as she was in the musical the weekend they gave out the awards.  A representative from District 7 came to the dinner and gave her a medal, a plaque and $500.  So in total, she won $300 from the local VFW Post 7754, $75 from the local women's auxiliary and $500 from the Ohio District 7 VFW. Congratulations Gabby Palmer. Please download a few pictures from the event here .

Please download and read our  Patriot's Pen and  Voice of Democracy  - Fall 2017 Winners

Patriot's pen essay winners - fall 2017 - congratulations to our middle school patriot's pen essay winners.

• 1st place:  Morgan Braemer
• 2nd place: Emily Luke
• 3rd place:  Natalie Gladding  

Representatives from the VFW Post 7754 came to present awards to each of these students for their winning essays. Commander Kalal, President of the Essay Contests Mr. Sherwood and VFW Secretary Janet Merrick were at Fairport Harding High School to present awards. The theme for this year's contest was: America's Gift to My Generation. There were just over 70 essays submitted from grades 6-8 from just Fairport Harding Jr. High to the local VFW Post 7754. Mrs. Merrick shared the great news that 8th grader Morgan Braemer's first-place essay has placed third in the district and has moved on to the state competition. We wish Morgan Braemer the best and are very proud of her accomplishments!! Congrats again to all of our essay winners.

Voice of Democracy Winners - Fall 2017 - Congratulations to our High School Voice of Democracy Winners!

1st place:  Maya Hess

2nd place:  Adam Wilson

3rd place:  Angie Gutekunst

Just under 50 high school students competed in the Voice of Democracy speech contest this year. Students in grades 9-12 had to write a speech and then record it. Auburn Career Center's IMT students came to Fairport earlier in October and then created the audio recordings on CDs for our students to submit to the Fairport VFW. Thank you to all who participated and shared their opinions on America's Future! Well done to our three high school speech winners! Around September of next school year, please be on the lookout for next year's annual VFW Voice of Democracy contest and be sure to submit yours! 

If you would like to watch Morgan Braemer and Maya Hess deliver their winning speeches, please watch the video on Youtube below:  

(Video Credits: Auburn Career Center Instructional Media Technology Program)

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Brady Middle School students to compete in Power of the Pen state tournament

• Updated: Apr. 05, 2024, 2:56 p.m. |
• Published: Apr. 05, 2024, 1:45 p.m.

Brady Middle School students, from left, Henry Miller, Madison Hopkins, Jaya Dixit, Olivia Kim and Adeline Moran have been invited to the Power of the Pen state tournament May 17 at Ashland University. (Photo Courtesy of Orange City Schools)

• Ed Wittenberg, special to cleveland.com

PEPPPER PIKE, Ohio -- Five Brady Middle School students have been invited to the Power of the Pen state tournament May 17 at Ashland University.

They are Henry Miller, Madison Hopkins, Jaya Dixit, Olivia Kim and Adeline Moran.

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YOUTH ESSAYS

Youth Scholarships

The VFW is dedicated to promoting patriotism and investing in our future generation. If you are a democracy-loving high school student interested in a $35,000 college scholarship or a patriotic middle school student interested in winning $5,000, these scholarships may be for you.

Voice of Democracy

Established in 1947, our  Voice of Democracy  audio-essay program provides high school students with the unique opportunity to express themselves in regards to a democratic and patriotic-themed recorded essay.  Each year, nearly 25,000 ninth through 12th grade students from across the country enter to win their share of more than $1 million in educational scholarships and incentives awarded through the program. 

The national first place winner receives a $35,000 scholarship paid directly to the recipient’s American university, college or vocational/technical school. A complete list of other national scholarships range from $1,000-$21,000, and the first place winner from each VFW Department (state) wins at least a scholarship of $1,000. Before submitting your essay, download the  2024-2025 entry form here  and find your sponsoring  local VFW Post  as applications must be turned in by  midnight, Oct. 31 . 

The 2024-25 theme is:  "Is America Today Our Forefathers' Vision?"

About the 2023-2024 winner ...

Sophia Lin, a high school junior at BASIS Scottsdale in Scottsdale, Arizona, was named the 2023-2024 Voice of Democracy first place winner. Sophia's speech on the theme, "What Are the Greatest Attributes of Our Democracy?" won her a $35,000 college scholarship. Sophia was sponsored by Scottsdale VFW Post 3513.  Watch as Sophia delivered her speech during the VFW's Parade of Winners award  ceremony or  read it here .

Want to catch up on everything that happened this year? You can watch the full  Parade of Winners ceremony  which was streamed live on Facebook, or  see this year's complete list of winners .

Patriot's Pen

Each year, nearly 68,800 students in sixth through eighth grades enter the VFW’s  Patriot’s Pen  youth essay contest for a chance to win their share of nearly $1 million in state and national awards. Each first place state winner receives a minimum of $500 at the national level, and the national first place winner wins $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 a patriotic theme chosen by the VFW Commander-in-Chief. Before submitting your essay,  download the 2024-2025 entry form here  and  find your sponsoring  local VFW Post  as applications must be turned in by  midnight, Oct. 31 . 

The 2023-24 theme is:  "My Voice in America's Democracy?"

Bryant Day, an eighth grade student from Ashland, Ohio, was named the 2023-2024 Patriot's Pen first place winner. His essay on the theme, "How Are You Inspired by America?" won the national first place $5,000 award. Bryant was sponsored by VFW Post 9943 and its Auxiliary in Mansfield, Ohio.

Watch as Bryant delivered his winning essay  during the VFW's Parade of Winners streamed live on Facebook, or  read  his essay here.  See the complete list of 2024 national winners .

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