Are You A Winner?

Wonderful scholarships are available for you.

The VFW Auxiliary offers several scholarships, including:

• Young American Creative Patriotic Art Contest

Open to students in grades 9–12, including home-schooled students. The national first-place winner receives a $15,000 scholarship. The submission deadline for 2025 is March 31.

• 3-Dimensional Patriotic Art Contest

Open to students in grades 9–12, including home-schooled students. The national first-place winner receives a $2,500 scholarship. The submission deadline for 2025 is March 31.

• Continuing Education Scholarship

Open to applicants who are 21 years of age or older and are a current VFW Auxiliary Member, spouse, son, or daughter of a current VFW Auxiliary Member.

The VFW Auxiliary Promotes These VFW Scholarships:

• Voice of Democracy

An annual audio-essay contest for high school students in grades 9–12. The national first-place winner receives a $35,000 scholarship, and the first-place winner from each VFW Department receives at least a $1,000 scholarship. The application deadline for 2025 is October 31.

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.

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: https://www.vfw.org/media-and-events/events/vfw-legislative-conference/2024-vfw-washington-conference

• Patriot's Pen

A youth scholarship competition: 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.

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!

For More Information

Locally, contact Marianne Hayes at rdhhays@gmail.com or Carol Allen at editor@azbw.com (please put "Scholarships" in the subject line). Both represent Scottsdale's VFW Post 3513.

Nationally, watch for updates and application forms at -

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