Voice of Democracy scholarship program
HURON — The Veteran of Foreign War (VFW) Auxiliary will again be sponsoring the Voice of Democracy (VOD) Scholarship Program. The scholarship is open to students in grades nine through 12 who are enrolled in a public, private or parochial high school or home study program. The Voice of Democracy audio-essay program provides high school students with the opportunity to express themselves on democratic ideas and principles.
This year’s VOD essay theme is “American History: Our Hope for the Future.”
Students should record themselves reading the essay to an audio CD or flash drive. The recording can be no shorter than three minutes and no longer than five minutes (plus or minus five seconds). The entry deadline is Oct. 31, and entries can be mailed to VFW Voice of Democracy, c/o 540 Ohio Ave. N.W., Huron, S.D. 57350. Please include your contact information.
Entries begin at the Post level. Winners go on to the District competition, and those winners advance to state. The first place winner from each state receives a minimum scholarship of $1,000 and an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C., for the national competition.
The national first-place winner receives a $30,000 scholarship paid directly to the recipient’s university, college or vocational/technical school. Other national scholarships range from $1,000-$16,000.
Each year, nearly 38,000 high school students from across the country enter to win a share of the educational scholarships and incentives awarded through the VFW’s Voice of Democracy audio-essay competition.
VFW Patriot’s Pen youth essay contest
HURON — Students in grades six through eight are invited to enter the VFW Patriot’s Pen youth essay contest focusing on the theme, “America’s Gift to My Generation.”
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. The deadline for submitting an essay is Oct. 31. Essays can be mailed to VFW Patriot’s Pen, c/o 540 Ohio Ave. N.W., Huron, S.D. 57350. Please include your contact information.
Each year more than 125,000 students enter the contest. Competition begins at the local Post, with winners advancing to district and state events. The first-place winner from each state competes for national awards totaling $50,000, with each first-place state winner receiving a minimum of $500 at the national level. The national first-place winner wins $5,000 and an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C., in March.
