Kewanee Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8078 is now accepting entries for its 2023-24 “Voice of Democracy and Patriot’s Pen” youth scholarship competitions. America’s high school students will be required to answer, “What are the greatest attributes of our Democracy?” while students in 6th, 7th or 8th grade will have the opportunity to answer, “How are you inspired by America?”
Encouraging a better understanding and appreciation for America, the “VFW’s Voice of Democracy and Patriot’s Pen” essay competitions help foster patriotism among today’s youth. The programs also offer friendly competition as well as reward success in the form of individual scholarships totaling more than $3 million.
The Voice of Democracy audio-essay competition is open to all students in grades 9-12, with the top national prize scholarship totaling $30,000. Nearly 25,000 high school students compete in the annual competition. Open to all students in grades 6-8, more than 68,800 students participate annually in the Patriot’s Pen written essay competition.
The first-place national award is currently $5,000. Each year, more than 4,000 high school students from across the country participate in the VFW Auxiliary’s Young American Creative Patriotic Art Contest. The contest recognizes up-and-coming artists and encourages patriotism in youth. This contest comprises only two-dimensional entries.
The first-place winner from each state competes for national awards totaling $34,000. The 3-Dimensional Patriotic Art Contest is exclusively for three-dimensional art pieces. Students in grades 9 – 12 may enter. Three-dimensional art can be paper, papier-mâché, pottery, sculpture, fabric, wood,metal work, etc. The first-place winner from each state competes for national awards totaling $5,000.
Student entries may be submitted (along with a completed entry form) to VFW Post 8078. Locally, 1st – 3rd place entries in each youth contest are awarded prize money. First place winners advance to District, State and National competitions. Contest entry forms can be found on www.vfwauxiliary.org/scholarships .
For more information or entry forms contact Cindie Saey, Scholarship Chairman at (309) 852-2679. The deadline for both essay contests is October 31, 2023. The deadline for the art contests is March 31, 2024.
The VFW and its Auxiliary want to identify and recognize America’s best educators who instill a sense of national pride in students. The national awards include $1,000 Smart/Maher VFW National Citizenship Education Teacher Award for each of the top K-5, 6-8, and 9-12 teachers for professional development expenses, $1,000 award for each winning teacher’s school, commemorative plaques and all-expense paid trip to the VFW National Convention. Locally, one winner from each of the three grade “groups” will be recognized as well.
Please review the new rules and eligibility requirements and complete the 2023 entry form and brochure to nominate a teacher you know. Teacher nomination entries must be received at a local participating VFW Post by the Oct. 31, 2023 deadline.
