voice of democracy audio essay contests

Member Login

Forgot username or password?

Are you a new user, what is id.me • video tutorials for id.me.

• Media & Events
• Latest Releases

VFW Opens Annual Youth Patriotic Scholarship Contests

The programs award more than $3 million to middle and high school students.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) is now accepting entries for its 2022-23 Voice of Democracy and Patriot’s Pen youth scholarship competitions. America’s high school students will be required to answer, “Why Is the Veteran Important?” while middle school students will have the opportunity to declare, “My Pledge to Our Veterans.”

The Voice of Democracy audio-essay competition is open to all students in grades 9-12, with the top national prize scholarship totaling $30,000. Nearly 25,000 high school students compete in the annual competition. This year’s winner, Daniela Mare, was sponsored by VFW Post 9486 and its Auxiliary in Centereach, New York. Listen to her award-winning audio-essay here .

Open to all students in grades 6-8, more than 68,800 students participate annually in the Patriot’s Pen essay competition. Syed Ali, the 2021-2022 Patriot’s Pen first place winner, was sponsored by VFW Post 521 and its Auxiliary in New Iberia, Louisiana. Listen to his award-winning entry here .

Student entries may be submitted (along with a completed entry form) to their local participating VFW Post. The deadline for both contests is Oct. 31, 2022.

Find your local VFW Post , or read more about the contests .  

Related Articles

‘america inspires me to dream big’, celebrating 125 years of helping veterans and their families, ‘i drew the war’, michigan post continues buddy poppy tradition.

VOICE OF DEMCRACY ESSAY CONTEST

2023-2024 Theme

"What are the greatest attributes of our Democracy?”

Student Entry Deadline: October 31, 2023

Patriotic Audio Essay Competition Grand Prize: $35,000 Award

VOD Entry Form

VOD Score Sheet

VFW SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS

At the turn of the 20th century, the founders of the Veterans of Foreign Wars created an organization that would honor and serve veterans and perpetuate the values and ideals for which those veterans had served.  Although men of vision, it is doubtful they could imagine the millions of Americans impacted today by the VFW’s youth, scholarship and recognition programs. Every year, tens of thousands of students nationwide participate in the Voice of Democracy Scholarship Competition and the Patriot’s Pen Essay Contest, garnering more than $3.2 million in scholarships, awards, and incentives.

Voice of Democracy Scholarship Competition  The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) started the Voice of Democracy Scholarship Competition in 1946. The Veterans of Foreign Wars became a national sponsor in the late 1950s and assumed sole responsibility for the program in 1961. Many notables have participated in the Voice of Democracy including journalist Charles Kuralt, Miss America Anita Bryant and former U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft. The Voice of Democracy competition provides high school freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors the opportunity to write and record an audio essay on a patriotic theme, competing for more than $2 million in college scholarships and incentives. Each first place Department (state) winner is brought to Washington, D.C. in March to enjoy our nation’s capital. 

VFW national Voice of Democracy scholarships have been raised $5k each, bringing the total national scholarship amount to   $171,000.  

1st Place $35,000 T.C. Selman Memorial Scholarship

2nd Place $21,000 Charles Kuralt Memorial Scholarship

3rd Place $15,000 VFW Scholarship

Deadlines 2023-24

The deadlines for both Voice of Democracy and Patriot’s Pen are as follows:

• Midnight, October 31 ,  Entries to the Post *
• November 15, Entries received at your District
• December 15, Entries received at Department
• December 15 , District participation reports to Department Chairmen**
• January 15 , Department winners to National*
• January 31 , Department reports to National*  

Post entries are required to include: Typed essay, an audio file of the recorded essay (3-5 minutes, +/- 5 seconds), and a student entry form completed legibly.  Please refer to the student Voice of Democracy and Patriot’s Pen entry forms to review the complete rules and guidelines.

Address 1285BaringBlvd.#184 SparksNevada89434 Contact Us via Email Phone: 775-544-8786

Menu Home About Programs Resources News Contact Members Only

Links Site Admin Webmail Follow on Facebook VFW National VFW Store National Auxiliary Site

VOICE OF DEMOCRACY

Established in 1947, the Voice of Democracy audio-essay competition is open to high school students in 9th through 12th grades, with the national first place prize scholarship totaling $35,000 and the first-place winner from each VFW Department (State) being awarded a scholarship of at least $1,000.  The first place Department (State) winners receive a special Parade of Winners trip to Washington, D.C., sponsored by Twisted X, where they compete for more than $170,000 in national scholarship awards. Nearly 22,000 high school students worldwide compete in the competition each year.

The 2024-25 Voice of Democracy scholarship competition theme is:

"Is America Today Our Forefathers’ Vision?”

Before submitting your essay, download the 2024-2025 entry form here and find your sponsoring local VFW Post here .

This year, all submissions will have to be submitted via our new scholarship management program, Scholar’s App. This is an online platform that is intended to not only streamline the application submission and judging processes for the competition, but it will also expose the students to a wide range of scholarship opportunities once they create an account on the system. Please go to our ScholarsApp page for more information.

Applications/Essays are due to your local VFW Post by 31 October!

JUDGING CRITERIA

Originality - 30 points: Treatment of the theme should show imagination and human interest

Content - 35 points: Clearly express your ideas in an organized manner. Fully develop your theme and use transitions to move smoothly from one idea to the other.

Delivery - 35 points: Speak in a clear and credible manner.

Address 403 Lee Jackson HWY Staunton, VA 24401 Contact Us via Email Phone: 540-886-8112 Fax: 866-416-0586

Menu Home About Programs Resources News Contact Members Only

Links Site Admin Webmail Follow on Facebook VFW National VFW Store National Auxiliary Site

VOICE OF DEMOCRACY

Donate to department of new jersey.

Our programs support our service members while they are on the front line, as they are being discharged and long after they return. Your tax-deductible donation will be immediately directed to the VFW programs where your support is most urgently needed.

Address 171 Jersey St, Bldg 5 2nd Floor Trenton NJ, NJ 08611 Contact Us via Email Phone: 609-393-1929 Fax: 609-393-3031

Ken Hagemann, USMC

State Adjutant/QM

Phone: 609-393-1929

Email:  [email protected]

Juan Class, ARMY

State Inspector

Email:  [email protected]

Helen Inirio, ARMY

Assistant to State Adjutant/QM

Membership/Bonds/Poppies

Email:  [email protected]

Deborah Donaghy, ARMY

Office Assistant

Email:  [email protected]

Meggan McFadden

Office Administrator

Email: [email protected]

Bob Weiss, USMC    

Department Veteran Service Officer

Phone: 609-393-1952

Email:  [email protected]

VA Accreditation #50928

Joshua Hansen, ARMY

Veterans Service Officer

Email:  [email protected]   [email protected]

VA Accreditation #43230

Charles Thorp, ARMY

Veteran Service Officer

Email:  [email protected]

VA Accreditation #53925

Mike Boll, USMC

Email:  [email protected]

VA Accreditation #53920

Jaime Santiago, ARMY

Phone: 856-401-7660

Email:  [email protected]

VA Accreditation #51517

Gloucester County Veterans Affairs

211 County House Rd

Kevin O'Hora, USMC

Phone: 201-336-6329

Email:  [email protected]

VA Accreditation #49906

Bergen County Department of Human Services

One Bergen County Plaza - 2nd fl - Hackensack NJ

Shaun Hutchinson, ARMY

Phone: 201-336-6326

Email:  [email protected]

VA Accreditation #52036

Denise Balderama, USMC/ARMY

Assistant Veteran Service Officer

Email:  [email protected]

VA Accreditation #29542

Adrian Romero, ARMY

Outreach Coordinator

Phone: 609-569-2176

Email:  [email protected]

Menu Home About Programs Resources News Contact Members Only

Links Site Admin Webmail Follow on Facebook VFW National VFW Store National Auxiliary Site

VOICE OF DEMOCRACY

The VFW  Voice of Democracy  audio-essay program provides high school students with the unique opportunity to express themselves on a democratic and patriotic-themed recorded essay.  Each year, nearly 27,000 9th through 12th grade students from across the country enter to win their share of more than $2 million in educational scholarships and incentives awarded through the program. 

In Michigan, one student from each of the VFW's 12 Districts will compete on the state level, each winning a minimum scholarship of $1,000. The State winner will go on to compete at the National level of judging.  The National first place winner will receive a $35,000 scholarship paid directly to the recipient’s American university, college or vocational/technical school of choice.

The Michigan 2024 Voice of Democracy winner was Eddy Holcomb , from Portland High School in VFW District 9 and submitted by VFW Post 4090!  He represented Michigan in Washington D.C., where his essay was judged against winners from all 53 VFW Departments.

2024-2025 Voice of Democracy Program 

Voice of Democracy Brochure and Entry Form

Michael Martin, Director

199 East 34 th St, Apt 2

Holland MI 49423

616-594-9151

[email protected]

Denise Arnold, Auxiliary Chair

9525 E River Rd

Mt Pleasant MI 48858

989-621-0327

[email protected]

Statewide News

Gary brown named vfw michigan member of the year, past department commander ray lopez presented gary brown with the vfw department of michigan member of the year award at the organization's annual state convention june 1, 2024., vfw mi department commander's memorial day message, this memorial day, we are reminded of the sacrifices made by the men and women who have served this nation in uniform for nearly 250 years., national news, happy birthday army ... and to the flag you carry, washington - on june 14, the veterans of foreign wars (vfw) joins in with our grateful nation in celebrating the birthday of the u..., new study links cancers to camp lejeune water contamination, a study published in january found an increased risk for cancers among troops and civilian contractors stationed at marine corps base camp lejeune ....

Address 924 N Washington Ave Lansing, MI 48906 Contact Us via Email Phone: 517-485-9456 Fax: 517-485-6432

Menu Home About Programs Resources News Store Contact Members Only

Links Site Admin Webmail Follow on Facebook VFW National VFW Store National Auxiliary Site

VOICE OF DEMOCRACY

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 $1.3 million in educational scholarships and incentives awarded through the program. 

The national first place winner receives a $35,000 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-$21,000, and the first place winner from each VFW Department (state) wins at least a scholarship of $1,000. Before submitting your essay, read  the rules and eligibility requirements , and find your sponsoring  local VFW Post  as applications must be turned in by  midnight, Oct. 31 .  Download and complete the 2023-2024 Voice of Democracy entry form here .

The 2023-24 theme is:  "What Are the Greatest Attributes of Our Democracy?"

Address 35 E Chestnut St Ste 506 Columbus, OH 43215 Contact Us via Email Phone: 614-224-1838 Fax: 614-224-3861

M:  8:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m. T:  8:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m. W:  8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Th:  8:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m. F:  8:00 a.m.- 2:00 p.m. Office: 614-224-1838 Fax:     614-224-3861

Menu Home About Programs Resources News Contact Members Only

Links Site Admin Webmail Follow on Facebook VFW National VFW Store National Auxiliary Site

VOICE OF DEMOCRACY AUDIO ESSAY CONTESTS

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 64,500 9-12 grade students from across the country enter to win their share of more than $2 million in educational scholarships and incentives awarded through the program.     Rules   Application

Address PO Box 718 Milford, 18337 Contact Us via Email Phone: 570-559-7354 Fax: 570-227-0362

We are Co-located with the American Legion Post 139,  but they will accept our VFW Membership Cards. If you are looking for information on the American Legion.   https://www.facebook.com/Milford-American-Legion-Post-139-262352380533145/      

Menu Home About Programs Resources News Contact Members Only

Links Site Admin Webmail Follow on Facebook VFW National VFW Store National Auxiliary Site

PATRIOTS PEN/VOD

2024-2025 

Voice of Democracy

"Is America Today Our Forefathers' Vision ?" Application

Student Entry Deadline: October 31, 2024

Patriotic Audio Essay Competition Grand Prize: $35,000 Award 

Established in 1947, our Voice of Democracy audio-essay program provides high school students with an unique opportunity to express themselves in a democratic and patriotic themed recorded essay. Each year, nearly 80,000 High School students from across the country enter to win their share of more than $2 million in educational scholarships.

Record your original 3-5 minute audio essay on a flash drive or on other electronic device. You will submit the recording, a typed essay and send the completed entry form to your local participating post.

Patriot's Pen

"My Voice In America's Democracy" Application

 Student Entry Deadline: October 31, 2024

Patriotic Written Essay Competition Grand Prize: $5,000 Award

Each year, more than 84,000 students participate in the VFW Patriots Pen contest expressing their views on an annual patriotic theme. Students from the 6th, 7th and 8th grade submit an essay 300-400 words in length.  Department (State) winners receive a portion of $55,000 in National awards.

You will submit the typed essay (no colors or graphics) and the completed entry form to your local participating post.

Address 69 Sand Creek Road Albany, NY 12205 Contact Us via Email Phone: 518-463-7427 Fax: 518-426-8904

Menu Home About Programs Resources News Contact Members Only

Links Site Admin Webmail Follow on Facebook VFW National VFW Store National Auxiliary Site

VOICE OF DEMOCRACY

Established in 1947, the Voice of Democracy audio-essay competition is open to high school students in 9th through 12th grades, with the national first place prize scholarship totaling $35,000 and the first-place winner from each VFW Department (State) being awarded a scholarship of at least $1,000.  The first place Department (State) winners receive a special Parade of Winners trip to Washington, D.C., sponsored by Twisted X, where they compete for more than $170,000 in national scholarship awards. Nearly 22,000 high school students worldwide compete in the competition each year.

The 2024-25 Voice of Democracy scholarship competition theme is:

"Is America Today Our Forefathers’ Vision?”

Before submitting your essay, download the 2024-2025 entry form here and find your sponsoring local VFW Post here .

This year, all submissions will have to be submitted via our new scholarship management program, Scholar’s App. This is an online platform that is intended to not only streamline the application submission and judging processes for the competition, but it will also expose the students to a wide range of scholarship opportunities once they create an account on the system. Please go to our ScholarsApp page for more information.

Applications/Essays are due to your local VFW Post by 31 October!

JUDGING CRITERIA

Originality - 30 points: Treatment of the theme should show imagination and human interest

Content - 35 points: Clearly express your ideas in an organized manner. Fully develop your theme and use transitions to move smoothly from one idea to the other.

Delivery - 35 points: Speak in a clear and credible manner.

Address 403 Lee Jackson HWY Staunton, VA 24401 Contact Us via Email Phone: 540-886-8112 Fax: 866-416-0586

Menu Home About Programs Resources News Contact Members Only

Links Site Admin Webmail Follow on Facebook VFW National VFW Store National Auxiliary Site

VFW Auxiliary | Unwavering Support for Uncommon Heroes®

• Scholarships: Voice of Democracy & Patriot’s Pen Deadlines Approaching
• Programs Blog

Melody Judd 2022 – 2023 National Scholarship Ambassador

Voice of Democracy and Patriot’s Pen

Here it is October and the October 31 st deadline for Voice of Democracy and Patriot’s Pen is approaching fast, just like winter. Where I live in Eastern Arizona, our mountain peaks received their first dusting of snow this week.

The theme for Voice of Democracy is “ Why is the Veteran Important?” and the theme for Patriot’s Pen is “My Pledge to Our Veterans.”  In the United States where less than 1% of our nation’s citizens serve in the military, our youth must understand what a veteran is and the freedoms they have because of our veterans; that is what makes both themes important and relevant.

• The National first-place winner will receive a $35,000 scholarship.
• The National first-place winner will receive a $5,000 scholarship.

For more information about Voice of Democracy and Patriot’s Pen, click here to visit the VFW website.

The VFW Auxiliary works in partnership with our VFW Comrades to promote these two VFW – sponsored contests.

Get The Word Out – Where? Every Where!

Recognition is Key – It is important that scholarship and contest winners are recognized at every level.

Make sure applications are fully completed and legible before advancing them to the next competition level.  We don’t want a scholarship applicant to be disqualified because the application wasn’t completed.

VOICE OF DEMOCRACY SCHOLARSHIP

Address PO Box 955 Concord, NH 03302-0955 Contact Us via Email

Menu Home About Programs Resources News Contact Members Only

Links Site Admin Webmail Follow on Facebook VFW National VFW Store National Auxiliary Site

VOICE OF DEMOCRACY

VOICE OF DEMOCRACY:

Contest Closed for the year!

Check back for the next year's theme!

 Each year, nearly 38,000 high school students from across the country enter to win a share of the $2.2 million in educational scholarships and incentives awarded through the VFW’s Voice of Democracy audio-essay competition.

Minnesota’s Voice of Democracy 1st Place winner Ashley Homme, a  junior, sponsored by Post and Auxiliary #1215 from Rochester PLACED 4th in the Nation in the Voice of  Democracy Contest winning a $7,000 scholarship.

Other national scholarships range from $1,000-$16,000, and the first-place winner from each (state) VFW Department wins a minimum scholarship of $1,000 and an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C.

  WHO CAN ENTER:

 The Voice of Democracy Program is open to students in grades 9-12 (on the October 31 deadline), who are enrolled in a public, private or parochial high school or home study program in the United States and its territories. 

  HOW TO ENTER:

VFW Post 5919 serves the Minnetonka, Excelsior, Shorewood, South Shore area, and other surrounding communities.  Contact VFW Post 5919 for additional assistance and a copy of the entry form. For areas outside the Minnetonka, Excelsior, Shorewood, South Shore area contact your local VFW Post.

For more information contact VFW 5919 through Email:   [email protected]

You can download the entry form here .

You can also stop by the Excelsior American Legion and ask for an entry form. The Legion is located at 24450 Smithtown Rd, Excelsior, MN 55331.

Entries begin at the Post level. Once the student creates their essay and completes burning the audio version to an audio CD/flash drive, they can submit their typed version, CD/flash drive and the Voice of Democracy entry form to VFW Post 5919 by the October 31 deadline.

The recording can be no shorter than three minutes and no longer than five minutes (plus or minus five seconds).

 J UDGING CRITERIA:

 Originality is worth 30 points: Treatment of the theme should show imagination and human interest.

Content is worth 35 points: Clearly express your ideas in an organized manner. Fully develop your theme and use transitions to move smoothly from one idea to the next.

Delivery is worth 35 points: Speak in a clear and credible manner

  WHAT IS THE DEADLINE FOR MY ENTRY?

  All entries competing through VFW Post 5919 must be in the hands of VFW Post 5919 by midnight, October 31, 2022.   It is the responsibility of the student to meet this deadline by submitting their entry to the proper location. 

  VOD Prepares You for Life!

Meet People and Build Confidence:

  VOD enables you to meet your peers from all walks of life. Furthermore, it can have a tremendous impact on your future.

"The whole Voice of Democracy program was an experience that still is with me,” said Gary Belkin, a national VOD winner. "I’m now 36, a psychiatrist and ethicist at Harvard and Brown Medical schools where I teach, and also am finishing a doctorate in history at Harvard.”

The National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) has approved this contest for its National Advisory List of Contests and Activities.

  Local Winners from Lake Minnetonka Post 5919 will receive:

1 st Place - $500.00 + $100.00 to Teacher

2nd Place - $400.00

3rd Place - $300.00

Address 24450 Smithtown Road Excelsior, MN 55331 Contact Us via Email

Menu Home About Programs Resources News Contact Members Only

Links Site Admin Webmail VFW National VFW Store National Auxiliary Site

• Today's news
• Reviews and deals
• Climate change
• 2024 election
• Fall allergies
• Health news
• Mental health
• Sexual health
• Family health
• So mini ways
• Unapologetically
• Buying guides

Entertainment

• How to Watch
• My watchlist
• Stock market
• Biden economy
• Personal finance
• Stocks: most active
• Stocks: gainers
• Stocks: losers
• Trending tickers
• World indices
• US Treasury bonds
• Top mutual funds
• Highest open interest
• Highest implied volatility
• Currency converter
• Basic materials
• Communication services
• Consumer cyclical
• Consumer defensive
• Financial services
• Industrials
• Real estate
• Mutual funds
• Credit cards
• Balance transfer cards
• Cash back cards
• Rewards cards
• Travel cards
• Online checking
• High-yield savings
• Money market
• Home equity loan
• Personal loans
• Student loans
• Options pit
• Fantasy football
• Pro Pick 'Em
• College Pick 'Em
• Fantasy baseball
• Fantasy hockey
• Fantasy basketball
• Download the app
• Daily fantasy
• Scores and schedules
• GameChannel
• World Baseball Classic
• Premier League
• CONCACAF League
• Champions League
• Motorsports
• Horse racing
• Newsletters

New on Yahoo

• Privacy Dashboard

Corning VFW awards Patriot Pen, Voice of Democracy winners

Jan. 2—Five Corning youths received cash prizes for their winning essays into the Veterans of Foreign Wars Patriots Pen and Voice of Democracy essay contests.

Mike Taylor, a member of VFW Post 4218 in Corning and the chairman of the contest program, said the theme of the 2023 contest was "What Inspires Me About America" for the Patriot Pen and "What Are the Greatest Attributes of our Democracy" for the Voice of Democracy essay contest.

ThePatriot Pen contest is for students in the sixth-eighth grades and the Voice of Democracy for high school students.

Taylor presented the winner of the Patriot Pen essay contest, Hayley Day, with $100. She is the 13-year-old daughter of Pamela and Ryan Day of Corning, and a seventh-grade student at Richfield Elementary School.

Gabriel Henry, the 13-year-old son of Brett and April Henry, was the second place winner who earned $75 with his essay. He is also a seventh-grade student at Richfield Elementary School.

Third place and $50 was won by 11-year-old Lily Devine, the daughter of Tim and Nicole Devine. She is a sixth-grade student at Richfield Elementary School.

Taylor said each essay was entered in the VFW district-wide contest and that Henry's essay was the winner of that level and will go on to the state level contest.

Winner of the Voice of Democracy and $350 was Carlos Albornoz, the 16-year-old son of Jennifer and Carlos Albornoz of Corning. He is homeschooled through the Kolbe Academy.

Corning High School ninth-grade student Kimberly Rodriguez was the second place winner of Voice of Democracy, awarded $250 for her essay. She is the 14-year-old daughter of Aleli Rodriguez.

In addition to awarding the cash prizes to the essay winners, Taylor presented $1,000 to the Corning High School Parents Club on behalf of VFW Post 4218.

VOICE OF DEMOCRACY

Voice of democracy.

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. 

The national first place winner receives a $35,000 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-$21,000, and the first place winner from each VFW Department (state) wins at least a scholarship of $1,000. Before submitting your essay, read  the rules and eligibility requirements , and return to Post 1160 as applications must be turned in by  midnight, Oct. 31 .  Download and complete the 2023-2024 Voice of Democracy entry form here .

The 2023-24 theme is:  "What Are the Greatest Attributes of Our Democracy?"

About the 2022-2023 winner ...

Scotland Stewart, a sophomore at Franklin County High School in Winchester, Tennessee,, was named the 2022-2023 Voice of Democracy first place winner. Scotland’s speech on the theme, "Why is the Veteran Important?" won him a $35,000 college scholarship. Scotland was sponsored by VFW Post 1893 in Estill Springs, Tennessee.  Watch as Scotland delivered his speech during the VFW's Parade of Winners award  ceremony or  read it here .

Want to catch up on everything that happened this year? You can watch the full  Parade of Winners ceremony  which was streamed live on Facebook, or  see this year's complete list of winners .

Address 2831 The Plaza Charlotte, NC 28205 Contact Us via Email Phone: 704-332-3669

M:  2pm - 11pm T:  2pm - 11pm W:  2pm - 11pm Th:  2pm - 11pm F:  2pm - 11pm Sat:  1pm - 11pm Sun:  1pm - 11pm Depending on the number of people in our canteen (bar) we will close earlier than the hours listed.  We encourage you to call if you plan on arriving in the evening to ensure we're open.   704.332.3669

Menu Home About Programs Resources News Contact Members Only

Links Site Admin Webmail Follow on Facebook VFW National VFW Store National Auxiliary Site

YOUTH ESSAYS

Youth Scholarships

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.

Voice of Democracy

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. 

The national first place winner receives a $35,000 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-$21,000, and the first place winner from each VFW Department (state) wins at least a scholarship of $1,000. Before submitting your essay, download the  2024-2025 entry form here  and find your sponsoring  local VFW Post  as applications must be turned in by  midnight, Oct. 31 . 

The 2024-25 theme is:  "Is America Today Our Forefathers' Vision?"

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 .

Want to catch up on everything that happened this year? You can watch the full  Parade of Winners ceremony  which was streamed live on Facebook, or  see this year's complete list of winners .

Patriot's Pen

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! 

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. Before submitting your essay,  download the 2024-2025 entry form here  and  find your sponsoring  local VFW Post  as applications must be turned in by  midnight, Oct. 31 . 

The 2024-25 theme is:  "My Voice in America's Democracy?"

Bryant Day, an eighth grade student from Ashland, Ohio, was named the 2023-2024 Patriot's Pen first place winner. His essay on the theme, "How Are You Inspired by America?" won the national first place $5,000 award. Bryant was sponsored by VFW Post 9943 and its Auxiliary in Mansfield, Ohio.

Watch as Bryant delivered his winning essay  during the VFW's Parade of Winners streamed live on Facebook, or  read  his essay here.  See the complete list of 2024 national winners .

Address 5213 Pacific Highway East Fife, WA 98424 Contact Us via Email Phone: 253-922-2114 Fax: 253-922-2208

M:  8AM - 4PM T:  8AM - 4PM W:  8AM - 4PM Th:  8AM - 4PM F:  8AM - 4PM Sat:  Closed Sun:  Closed Veteran Service Officer Hours   M- Appointment only 7AM-4PM Tu- Walk-in 9AM-2PM W- Appointment only 7AM-4PM Th- Walk-in 9AM-2PM F-( Admin Day ) 7AM-4PM Sat Closed Sun Closed

Menu Home About Programs Resources News Contact Members Only

Links Site Admin Webmail Follow on Facebook VFW National VFW Store National Auxiliary Site

• An apparent coup in Bolivia founders, but the country remains in trouble

The sight of armoured vehicles ramming the presidential palace will scare investors away

Your browser does not support the <audio> element.

T he soldiers and armoured vehicles that swarmed through La Paz, Bolivia’s capital, on June 26th had one destination: the presidential palace. After a small tank repeatedly rammed its doors, soldiers pushed inside. The leader of the uprising then revealed himself as Juan José Zúñiga, the commander of the armed forces until his sacking on June 25th. “There will be a new cabinet of ministers,” he told reporters. Politicians had to “stop destroying, stop impoverishing our country, stop humiliating our army”. The army was trying to install “a true democracy”. The army, he underscored, “did not lack balls”.

Nor, it seemed, did President Luis Arce. At one point he emerged to argue with the putschists face-to-face. Returning inside, he managed to hold a ceremony to appoint new heads of the armed forces, over the booming of tear gas being fired at pro-democracy protesters outside. It was an “atypical” day, he noted dryly, but swore “we will defeat any coup attempt.” He called on Bolivians to mobilise to defend democracy, but also to stay calm. The new top brass demanded all soldiers return to the barracks. Meanwhile one of Bolivia’s biggest unions announced a general strike in protest at the coup attempt. Condemnation of the attempted putsch poured in from leaders across the world.

Almost as suddenly as they had arrived, the soldiers left, replaced by crowds of civilians chanting in support of democracy. Mr Arce emerged onto the presidential balcony and used a megaphone to declare that “no one can take away the democracy that we have won at the polls and with the blood of the Bolivian people”. The apparent coup attempt had failed.

That is good news for a region that believed coups were largely consigned to history. But the uprising was prompted, at least in some way, by a profound political and economic crisis. Ahead of elections next year Mr Arce and Evo Morales, a former president, are vying for power. Tensions between the pair—both leftists and former colleagues—have paralysed the government, aggravated economic woes and, in turn, fuelled street protests. The sight of tanks ramming the presidential palace has succeeded only in making Bolivia appear more unstable and chaotic to businesses, investors and tourists.

The rolling political crisis began in 2019 when Mr Morales ran for an unconstitutional third term. He won, but after accusations of fraud and mass protests that caused 36 deaths the army asked him to resign. He did so, and left the country.

In 2020 Bolivia elected Mr Arce as president. He had been Mr Morales’s economy minister. But as the pandemic battered the country, the economy slumped. Mr Morales returned, saying he would run against Mr Arce in 2025. The president says this is unconstitutional (the constitutional court agrees). Meanwhile Mr Morales’s allies in Congress have made it almost impossible for Mr Arce to govern, blocking efforts to secure loans that would relieve pressure on the government purse, and scotching plans to bring in foreign investors to mine abundant reserves of lithium. Mr Arce calls this an “economic boycott” by his rival’s allies. Mr Morales has threatened to unleash unrest if he is stopped from running.

The uprising seemed momentarily to unite the two angry leftists. Mr Morales quickly denounced the attempted putsch and called for a mass mobilisation to protect democracy. It may have helped that General Zúñiga appeared to favour the political right.

Yet with soldiers back in their barracks the chances of a smooth resolution to the leftists’ dispute remain slim. The army’s escapade may have deepened it. General Zúñiga was arrested on the evening of his failed coup. He may have been attempting to seize power, using the political and economic crisis as justification; he was sacked after saying he would not let Mr Morales be president again on national television. But as he was taken away he accused Mr Arce of asking him to stage an uprising “to raise [the president’s] popularity”. Even if false, the accusations may fuel more chaos.

Meanwhile ordinary Bolivians continue to struggle. The country is desperately short of dollars. Fuel, which is largely imported, is scarce. The official exchange rate between the boliviano and the dollar has all but collapsed. The black-market rate is some 50% above the official one.  Bolivian merchants have flooded over the border into Brazil and Peru desperately trying to buy dollars at a steep premium.

The government spends some $2bn a year to import subsidised fuel, nearly bankrupting it. Natural-gas extraction, once a source of strength, is fading fast in part due to lack of investment by the state-owned hydrocarbons company. By 2030 the country may be a net importer of natural gas. In February Fitch downgraded the country’s debt from junk to even grimier junk. Now deep divisions in the army must be added to the wider political crisis.  ■

Sign up to El Boletín , our subscriber-only newsletter on Latin America, to understand the forces shaping a fascinating and complex region.

This article appeared in the The Americas section of the print edition under the headline “Ousting in the Andes”

The Americas June 29th 2024

Vancouver pioneered liberal drug policies. fentanyl destroyed them, a kenyan-led security mission finally starts to arrive in haiti.

From the June 29th 2024 edition

Discover stories from this section and more in the list of contents

More from The Americas

So-called harm-reduction measures have become a rod for Justin Trudeau’s back

But can it make a difference?

Javier Milei has turned Argentina into a libertarian laboratory

But the biggest economic test is yet to come

Javier Milei finally lugs key reforms through Argentina’s Senate

Markets celebrated the two bills’ passing, after protesters took to the streets of Buenos Aires

Why Latin America is the world’s trade pipsqueak

Its geography hinders commerce. But so does policy

Colombia’s leftist president is flailing

His attempts at reform are increasingly infuriating Colombians