VFW Voice of Democracy
Veterans of Foreign Wars
- Award
- $1,000 to $35,000
- Deadline
- October 31, 202623 days left
- Requirements
- Essay
An audio-essay competition open to students in grades 9 to 12. The national first-place award is $35,000 paid to the winner's college; state winners receive at least $1,000.
Who can apply
Students in the ninth through twelfth grades. Entries go to a participating local VFW Post with a completed entry form, so the first step is finding the nearest Post rather than applying online.
Applications are made directly with the provider. We never collect your application, never charge for one, and are not involved in selection.
Where this came from
Read from vfw.org on 15 September 2026 for the 2026-2027 competition year: entries due by midnight on 31 October, national first place $35,000, other national awards up to $21,000, state winners at least $1,000. Patriot's Pen, on the same page, is for grades 6 to 8 and is not listed here because this site is for students choosing a college.
Last checked September 15, 2026. Amounts and deadlines change every cycle, so confirm both with the provider before you rely on them.
Before you apply anywhere
- A legitimate scholarship never charges an application fee. If one does, it is not a scholarship.
- Nobody can guarantee you will win one. A guarantee is the clearest single sign of a scam.
- You should not need a bank account number or a Social Security number to apply. Those come later, from the college, if you win.
- Apply on the provider’s own site rather than through a middleman offering to do it for you.