Youth Can Win Scholarships, Prizes in Essay Contests
Youth Can Win Scholarships, Prizes in Essay Contests
High school and middle school students in area schools are welcome to enter two VFW-sponsored essay contests for the chance to win cash prizes locally and scholarships if they advance to higher levels of competition.
The members of the local VFW and VFW Auxiliary Post 3486 sponsor the Voice of Democracy and Patriot’s Pen contests. Students are to submit their entries at https:// scholarsapp.com before Friday, October 31.
The contests are part of the VFW members’ dedicated to promoting patriotism and investing in the future generation. Any high school student interested in a $35,000 college scholarship or middle school student interested in winning $5,000 can enter.
The Voice of Democracy contest was established in 1947. It is an audio-essay program that provides high school students with the unique opportunity to express themselves in regards to a democratic and patriotic-themed recorded essay. Each year, more than 26,400 ninth through 12th grade students from across the country enter to win their share of more than $1.4 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.
Students interested in participating must submit their written and audio essay prepared on this year’s theme, with a completed 2025-2026 entry form, to https:// scholarsapp.com. Applicants must find their sponsoring local VFW, which is District 4 Post 3486 (Milbank VFW) when submitting. Local prize amounts are first place, $200; second place, $100, and third place $50.
This year’s theme is How Are You Showing Patriotism and Support for Our Country?
In the Patriot’s Pen contest, each year, more than 60,600 students in sixth through eighth grades enter the annual 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.
Students interested in participating must submit their essay prepared on this year’s theme, “How Are You Showing Patriotism and Support for Our Country?”with a completed entry form to https://scholarsapp.com. They must enter under the sponsoring local VFW, which is District 4 Post 3486 (Milbank VFW). Local prize amounts are first place, $200; second place, $100, and third place $50.
