The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) is now accepting applications/entries for its 2025-2026 Voice of Democracy (VOD) and Patriot's Pen youth Essay Scholarship Competitions. The VFW is dedicated to promoting patriotism and investing in our future generation. The Voice of Democracy 2025-26 audio-essay competition, theme question, is "How Are You Showing Patriotism and Support for our Country?" and is open to all students in grades 9-12. Each State winner competed for the top national Grand Prize of a $35,000 scholarship. Additional scholarship of between $1,000 and $21,000 are also awarded at the national level and the first place winner from each VFW Department (State) wins a minimum scholarship of $1,000. .
Students in grades 6-8 competed in the Patriot's Pen Written Essay Competition by answering this year's 2025-26 theme question "How Are You Showing Patriotism and Support for Our Country?" Entrants compete for the top Grand Prize award of $5,000; however, each year, more than 60,000 students in sixth through eighty grades enter the VFW's Patriot's Pen annual youth essay contest for a chance to win their share of Nearly $1 million in state and national awards. Each first place Department (State) Patriot's Pen winner receives a minimum of $500 at the national level, and the national first place winner wins $5,000.
YOU ARE NOW ABLE TO APPLY ELECTRONICALLY FOR BOTH THE VOICE OF DEMOCRAC AND PATRIOT'S PEN 2025-2026 SCHOLARSHIPS (This is the recommended Method of Applying)
Click here to electronically apply for Voice of Democracy $35,000 Scholarship
Click here to electronically apply for Patriot's Pen $5,000 Scholarship
APPLY FOR THESE SCHOLARSHIP USING PAPER APPLICATIONS (We Strongly Encourage You to Apply Via the Electronically Filling Method Above)
Here is the link to the Voice of Democracy Student Entry Form
Here is the link to the Patriot's Pen Student Entry Form
The Deadline for this year competitions will be: October 31, 2025
If you have any questions contact, Committee Chairman, John Tull at 505-249-6104. Mr. Tull must receive your completed Entry Form and essays no later than 6:00 p.m. on October 31, 2025.
For additional information about these essay competitions click the links below:
Help Your Kids Get a Head Start on Their Future
Voice of Democracy Rules and Eligibility
Patriot's Pen Rules and Eligibility
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.
