• Since 1947, the Voice of Democracy has been the Veterans of Foreign Wars’ (VFW’s) premier scholarship program. Each year, nearly 27,000 high school students compete for more than $2 million in scholarships and incentives.
• Students compete by writing and recording an audio essay on an annual patriotic theme.
• This year’s theme is "What Are the Greatest Attributes of Our Democracy?"
• Prizes and scholarships can be awarded at the Post, District, state and national level. Department (State) winners receive an all-expense-paid trip to Washington DC, to tour the city, be honored by the VFW and its Auxiliary and receive their portion of $171,000 in national awards, the top award scholarship being $35,000.
• All entries are submitted at the Post level.
• The Voice of Democracy is open to students in grades 9-12 by the Oct. 31 deadline who are enrolled in a public private or parochial high school or home study program in the United States, its territories and possessions; or dependents of U.S. military or civilian personnel in overseas schools.
• Although U.S. citizenship is not required, students must be lawful U.S. permanent residents or have applied for permanent residence (the application for which has not been denied) and intend to become a U.S. citizen at the earliest opportunity allowed by law.
• Foreign exchange students, students age 20 or over, previous Voice of Democracy first place state winners, GED or Adult Education Students are ineligible.

• Record your original 3-5 minute (+ or – 5 seconds max.) audio essay.
• You will submit the recording and typed essay via an upload to your Scholar's App application.
• You must be the sole author of your essay. The recording must be in your own voice and in English.
• Use of ChatGPT or other AI tools is not allowed.
• Hearing/speech impaired students should email the Voice of Democracy National Office at youthscholarships@vfw.org for special instructions.

 

 Conducted nationwide, this VFW-sponsored youth essay competition gives students an opportunity to write essays expressing their views on an annual patriotic theme. We invite you to join the more than 73,000 students who participated last year in this contest.

What Is the Theme?

VFW's Commander-in-Chief annually chooses the year's theme.

The 2023-2024 theme is: "How Are You Inspired by America?"

The contest consists of four levels. The first level (entry) is sponsored by VFW Posts. Post winners advance, one for every 15 entries, to the VFW District (regional) level where the one first-place winner is advanced to the VFW Department (state) level. The first-place winner at the Department level is then advanced into the VFW national competition.

Prizes and scholarships can be awarded at the Post, District, State and National level. Department (State) winners receive a portion of $55,000 in national awards. National Winners will receive at least $500. The first-place national award is currently $5,000.

All entries are submitted at the Post level. Contestants are allowed to enter only once each year if otherwise eligible (one Post competition)

Eligibility:

**Patriot’s Pen is open to 6th, 7th and 8th-grade students enrolled by the Oct. 31 deadline in public, private or parochial schools in the U.S., its territories or its possessions; or dependents of U.S. military or civilian personnel in overseas schools. Home-schooled students also are eligible. Although U.S. citizenship is not required, students must be lawful U.S. permanent residents or have applied for permanent residence (the application which has not been denied) and intends to become a U.S. citizen at the earliest opportunity allowed by law. (Foreign exchange students or former winners that placed in the National contest are ineligible.)

Contest Rules:

You must write your own essay. The essay must be the contestant's original work and product of the contestant's own thinking.

Use of ChatGPT or other AI tools is not allowed.

Essays should be typed in English with no color or graphics. 300 - 400 words in length (+ or - 5 words max). Every word is counted.

In no way may the contestants identify themselves within their essay (including, but not limited to, your name, school, city, state, race or national origin.)

Do not put your name on your essay

Judging Criteria:

Knowledge of the theme is worth 30 points: You must show a thorough knowledge of the theme in your work. Demonstrate that you have researched the issue extensively.

Theme development is worth 35 points: Answer all relevant facts about the theme, such as the who, what, where, when and why. Relate the theme to your own experiences.

Clarity of Ideas is worth 35 points: Write your essay in an easy-to-understand format. Leave your reader with a clear understanding of your explanation of the theme.