Scholarship Programs

Voice of Democracy
Scholarship Deadlines:
Voice of Democracy-November 1

2008-2009 Theme
"Service and Sacrifice by America’s Veterans Benefit Today’s Youth by ... "
Entry Deadline
Nov. 1, 2008

Created in 1947, the Voice of Democracy (VOD) scholarship program is an audio-essay contest for high school students in grades 9-12 that annually provides more than $3 million in scholarships. The first-place winner, who competes with all the first-place VFW Department winners, receives a $30,000 scholarship that is paid directly to the recipient’s American university, college or vocational/technical school.

How to Enter:
Students can enter by submitting the required entry form, along with their essay and recording to a local VFW Post. Mail entry form and audio essay to the local VFW Post 8703. Just click and print your entry form from the link below.

Patriot's Pen

2008-2009 Theme
"Why America’s Veterans Should be Honored”
Entry Deadline
Nov. 1, 2008

Patriot's Pen, a youth-essay writing contest endorsed by the National Association of Secondary School Principals' contest criteria, is a nationwide competition that gives students in grades 6,7 and 8 the opportunity to write essays expressing their views on democracy. Annually, more than 115,000 students participate in the contest.

Contestants write a 300-400 word essay based on an annual patriotic theme. The first-place winner receives a $10,000 savings bond and an all-expense-paid trip to Washington D.C. The top national winners each receive a savings bond anywhere from $1,000 to $10,000. Click and print your entry form from link below.

Teacher of the Year Award

The VFW's National Citizenship Education Teachers' Award recognizes the nation's top elementary, junior high and high school teachers who teach citizenship education topics regularly and promote America's history and traditions. Nearly 1,000 teachers are from every state, the District of Columbia and overseas. Fellow teachers, supervisors or other interested individuals can submit nominations by November 1 to your local Post.

VFW's National citizenship education teacher awards include:

$1,000 cash award for professional development to each of the top K-5, 6-8 and 9-12 teachers;

$1,000 award for each winning teacher's school;

plaques for both the winning teacher and school;

an all-expense-paid trip to attend the VFW and Ladies Auxiliary National Community Service Conference in Washington, D.C. Teachers who win first place in each category will be invited to conduct a workshop at the conference. Click and Print entry from link below.

VFW Scout of the Year Scholarship

Deadlines:
Submit entry to local VFW Post: March 1, 2009
Posts submit local winner to VFW Department: April 1, 2009
Department nominees to VFW National: May 1, 2009

The VFW Scout of the Year Scholarship program provides a $5,000 award to an outstanding scout who is the recipient of a Boy Scout Eagle Award, a Venture Scouting Silver Award or a Sea Scout Quartermaster Award.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Be a registered, active member of a Boy Scout Troop, Venturing Crew, or a Sea Scout Ship;

Has received the Eagle Scout Award, Venture Silver Award or Sea Scout Quartermaster Award;

Has demonstrated practical citizenship in school, scouting and the community;

Has reached his/her 15th birthday and is enrolled in high school at the time of selection; and

Has submitted his/her completed entry by March 1, 2009, to a VFW Post in his/her community