Calling All Students!
VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) Scholarships
by Ruth Storkel
It’s time to sharpen your writing skills and earn scholarship money! Students in Grades 6-12 from private schools, public schools, and home schools are invited to enter the VFW essay contest to win scholarships to be used in furthering their education. This essay contest encourages young Americans to examine America’s history and their own experiences in modern American society.
The VFW is dedicated to investing in future generations and promoting patriotism. As a patriotic, American-loving student, this can be an excellent opportunity for you to earn college funds and inspire others by writing about your love for our great country!
Jr. High Students:
Nearly 68,800 students in grades 6-8 enter the “Patriot’s Pen” youth essay each year. There are national and state awards; each first-place state winner receives $500, and the national first-place winner is awarded $5,000! The essay theme for 2023-2024 is: “How Are You Inspired by America?” This 300-400 word essay is due October 31, 2023.
A seventh grader, Leighton Peters, from Rice Lake, Wisconsin, won the 2022-2023 “Patriot’s Pen” contest. Her essay was titled: My Pledge to Our Veterans.” She received a $5,000 scholarship.
High School Students:
Each year, 25,000 Grades 9-12 students express themselves in an “audio-essay” contest focusing on patriotism and American democracy. The first-place winner of the High School contest receives a $35,000 scholarship to the student’s choice of college or vocational/technical school.
The list of high school national scholarships ranges from $1000 to $35,000; the top winner in each state receives a scholarship of at least $1,000.
For the 2022-2023 year, Scotland Stewart, a sophomore at Franklin County High School, Winchester, Tennessee, was the “Voice of Democracy” winner, receiving a $35,000 scholarship. He gave a speech on “Why is the Veteran Important?”
All next year’s (2023-2024) essay entries must be turned in by October 31, almost 5 months from now. High school students will write on, “What are the greatest attributes of our democracy?” Jr. High students are given this topic: “How are you inspired by America?”
With the summer vacation beginning, students have extra “leisure time”…….possibly a great time to start thinking about and writing down some ideas for a prize-winning essay!
To find more information and essay entry forms, go to:
https//www.vfw.org/community/youth-and-education/youth-scholarships
