Announcements
Youth Scholarships
VFW Post 12102 & Auxiliary are sponsoring two scholarships for high school and middle school students.
This year’s “Voice of Democracy” theme is “Is America Today Our Forefathers’ Vision?”. The contest is open to students in grades 9-12 who are enrolled in a public, private, parochial high school, and homeschool students. Those students wanting to enter will have to record a 3 – 5 minutes audio essay and submit it along with a typed copy.
The national first place winner receives a $35,000 scholarship paid directly to the recipient’s American university, college, or vocational/technical school.
“Patriot’s Pen” is open to 6th, 7th and 8th-grade students enrolled in public, private, parochial schools, and homeschool students. The theme is: “My Voice in America’s Democracy?” 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.
Each first-place state winner receives a minimum of $500 at the national level, and the national first place winner wins $5,000.
Entry forms and further contest information can be found online at https://vfw.org/community/youth-and-education/youth-scholarshipsor by contacting the post’s Adjutant at adjutant@vfwpost12102.org. Entries can be mailed to P. O. Box 602, Walterboro, SC 29488. This year’s deadline is 31 October 2024.
2024-2025 Theme
“Is America Today Our Forefathers’ Vision?”
What is the Voice of Democracy Program?
Since 1947, the Voice of Democracy has been the Veterans of
Foreign Wars’ (VFW’s) premier scholarship program. Each year,
nearly 27,000 high school students compete for more than $2
million in scholarships and incentives. Students compete by writing
and recording an audio essay on an annual patriotic theme. This
year’s theme is, “Is America Today Our Forefathers’ Vision?”
2024-2025 Theme
“My Voice in America’s Democracy?”
What is the Patriot’s Pen Program?
Conducted nationwide, this VFW-sponsored youth essay
competition gives students an opportunity to write essays
expressing their views on an annual patriotic theme.
We invite you to join the more than 73,000 students who
participated last year in this contest.
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