VFW Voice of Democracy

Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and its Foundation · National

A national audio-essay competition for high schoolers who write and record a spoken essay on an annual patriotic theme. Entries are submitted through a local VFW Post and advance through Post, District, and Department (state) judging to the national level. It is one of VFW's two flagship youth scholarship contests (alongside the middle-school-only Patriot's Pen), distributing more than $1.6 million combined across all levels annually; Department winners also receive a trip to a leadership program at Valley Forge.

Eligibility

GradesGrades 9–12

Min GPA—

ScopeNational

StatesAll states

DemographicsOpen to students in grades 9-12; must submit through a participating local VFW Post. NOTE: the previously listed URL (vfw.org/community/youth-and-education/vfw-programs/voice-of-democracy) 404s — corrected to the live Youth Scholarships page above.

Applying

Award$1k–$35k

DueDue to your local VFW Post by midnight, October 31, 2026

EssayRequired

Rec. lettersNot required

RenewableNo

Awards/yr—

National first place is $35,000; other national scholarships range up to $21,000; every VFW Department (state) first-place winner receives at least $1,000. The total program awards more than $1.6 million annually across all levels.

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