Veterans Of Foreign Wars Auxiliary Offers Youth Competitions

The Veterans Of Foreign Wars Auxiliary Offers Youth Competitions

Patriot's Pen

The 2018-19 theme for this award is "Why I Honor the American Flag". Interested students can enter by the October 31 deadline. The Grand Prize for the Patriotic Essay Writing Contest is $5,000.

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.

Who Can Enter?

Patriot's Pen is open to 6th-, 7th- and 8th-grade students enrolled by the Oct.

31 deadline in public, private or parochial schools in the U.S., its territories or its possessions. Home-schooled students also are eligible. Although U. S.citizenship is not required, students must be lawful U. S. permanent residents or have applied for permanent residence (the application which has not been denied) and intends to become a U.S. citizen at the earliest opportunity allowed by law. Dependents of U.S. military or civilian personnel in overseas schools can participate too. (Foreign exchange students and former winners who placed in the National contest are excluded from the contest.)

Voice Of Democracy

The 2018-19 theme for this contest is "Why My Vote Matters". October 31 is the student entry deadline. The Grand Prize for the Patriotic Audio Essay Competition is $30,000.

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.

Who Can Enter?

The Voice of Democracy is open to students in grades 9-12 by the Oct. 31 deadline, who are enrolled in a public, private or parochial high school or home study program in the United States, its territories and possessions; or in an overseas U.S.

military/civilian dependent school. Although U.S. citizenship is not required, students must be lawful U.S. permanent residents or have applied for permanent residence (the application for which has not been denied) and intends to become a U.S. citizen at the earliest opportunity allowed by law. Foreign exchange students, students age 20 or over, previous Voice of Democracy first place state winners, GED or Adult Education Students are ineligible.

Young American Creative Patriotic Art Contest.

Each year, more than 3,500 high school students from across the country participate in the VFW Auxiliary's Young American Creative Patriotic Art Contest. The contest began in 1979 to recognize up-and-coming artists and encourage patriotism in youth.

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.

What Is The Scholarship Amount?

The first-place winner from each state competes for national awards totaling $29,500.

For More Information

Visit https://vfwauxiliary.org/scholarships/ or email editor@azbw.com.