Scholarships – This program includes National scholarships for students. The Voice of
Democracy is a speech writing competition, which has been around since
1947. It is opened to High School students, who write and record an
essay on an announced topic. The Patriot’s Pen competition is opened to
middle school students, who submit a written essay. The Patriotic Art
competition is opened to high school students who express their
patriotism through art. The Auxiliary also offers a scholarship to
members for their continuing education
South Carolina
Talitha Bing
Scholarships Chairman
Voice of Democracy (VOD) - a speech writing competition, where 9th through 12th grade students
write and record their speech. Winners at the National level receive
thousands of dollars.
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 40,000 9-12 grade
students from across the country enter to win their share of $2.1
million in educational scholarships and incentives awarded through the
program.
The national first-place winner receives a $30,000 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-$16,000, and the first-place winner from
each VFW Department (state) wins a minimum scholarship of $1,000 and an
all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C. Want to apply?
Read the rules and eligibility requirements and download the entry form and brochure before you submit your entry at your local VFW Post.
2019-2020 Voice of Democracy Program
"What Makes America Great”
Patriot's Pen - where 6th through 8th grade students submit a 300 to 400 word essay.
Again, National winners receive special recognition and thousands of
dollars.
Each year more than 132,000 students in grades 6-8 enter the VFW’s Patriot’s Pen youth
essay contest. The national first-place winner wins $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.
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? Read the rules and eligibility requirements and download the entry form and brochure before submitting your entry to your local VFW Post.
2019-2020 "PATRIOT PEN” ESSAY Program
"What Makes America Great"
Continuing Education Scholarship
The VFW Auxiliary is pleased to present the Continuing Education
Scholarship 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.
Who is Eligible to Apply?
- Applicant must be 18 years of age or older.
- 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.
What is the Scholarship Amount?
Four $1,000 scholarships will be awarded each year, one in each of the four VFW Auxiliary Conferences.
What are the Scholarship Submission Requirements?
Each applicant must:
- Answer all questions on the application.
- Write a brief essay (no more than 300 words) describing their
commitment to their goals and how this scholarship will help them attain
these goals.
What are the Scholarship Deadlines?
- July 1: Application process begins.
- February 15: All applications must be submitted to VFW Auxiliary National Headquarters.*
- May 1: Scholarship recipients are notified.
* required deadlines
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.
View all the previous first-place national winners.
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 $21,000.
What are the Scholarship Submission Requirements?
- Art must be on paper or canvas. Water color, pencil, pastel, charcoal, tempera, crayon, acrylic, pen-and-ink or oil may be used.
- Digital art and photography is NOT ACCEPTED.
-
Submit canvas entries on stretcher frames or canvas board; other entries must be matted on white.
Do not frame.
-
Art should be no smaller than 8” x 10” but no larger than 18” x 24,” not including the mat.
-
-
Submit a typed explanation of patriotism expressed in art (150 words or less).
What are the Scholarship Deadlines?
- March 31: Student Entry Deadline to Local VFW Auxiliary.*
- April 10: Local VFW Auxiliary and District Judging Complete.
- April 15: Local VFW Auxiliary and District Winners to Department (state) for Judging.*
- May 5: VFW Auxiliary Department (state) Winners to VFW Auxiliary National Headquarters.*
National
General Scholarship Contest Information
Continuing Education
Young American Creative Patriotic Art Contest
Patriot’s Pen and Voice of Democracy
Patriot’s Pen
Voice of Democracy
National
General Scholarship Contest Information
