Hear last years winning audio-essay

2010-2011 Theme
"Is There Pride in Serving in Our Military?" 
Entry Deadline
Nov. 1, 2011

Created in 1947, the Voice of Democracy (VOD) scholarship program is an audio-essay contest for high school students in grades 9-12 that annually provides more than $3 million in scholarships. The first-place winner, who competes with all the first-place VFW Department winners, receives a $30,000 scholarship that is paid directly to the recipient’s American university, college or vocational/technical school.

Besides competing for the top scholarship prize, as well as other national scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $16,000, each Department's first-place winner receives an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C., March 3-7, 2012.

The National Association of Secondary School Principals has placed this program on the NASSP National Advisory List of Contests and Activities for 2011-2012. The Voice of Democracy program is designed to foster patriotism by allowing students the opportunity to voice their opinion in a three to five minute essay based on an annual theme.

How to Enter:
Students can enter by submitting the required entry form, along with their essay and recording to a local VFW Post.

Read last years winning essay

2010-2011 Theme
"Are You Proud of Your Country?"
Entry Deadline
Nov. 1, 2011

Patriot's Pen, a youth-essay writing contest is a nationwide competition that gives students in grades 6,7 and 8 the opportunity to write essays expressing their views on democracy. Annually, more than 115,000 students participate in the contest.

The National Association of Secondary School Principals has placed this program on the NASSP National Advisory List of Contests and Activities for 2011-2012. The Patriot's Pen program is designed to foster patriotism by allowing students the opportunity to express their opinions based on an annual theme.

Student Information:
Students can enter by submitting the required entry form, along with their essay, to a local VFW Post.