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VFW Post 2713 ScholarShips for 2020

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The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 2713 in West Seattle announces this year’s VFW essay contests: 

Voice of Democracy scholarship competition: Students in grades 9-12 must write and record an essay on “Is This the Country the Founders Envisioned?” Each state first-place winner receives a four-day trip to Washington, D.C., and the chance for their share in scholarships. The first-place national winner receives a $30,000 college scholarship. Local Post 2713 awards: $500 – 1st place; $400 – 2nd place; $250 – 3rd place.

Patriot’s Pen is for grades 6-8. The national first-place winner wins $5,000 and an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C. The essay theme is: “What Is Patriotism to Me?” Local Post 2713 awards: $150 – 1st place; $100 – 2nd place; $75 – 3rd place.

Both programs are approved by the National Association of Secondary School Principals.

Also: A VFW Washington State Department competition for students in Grades 3-5. The theme is: “Why Should We Honor Veterans?” Local Post 2713 awards: $100 – 1st place; $75 – 2nd place; $50 – 3rd place.

This program is completely voluntary; a student (including homeschooled) does not have to go through their school to participate. Interested students and teachers should contact Bill Dwyer, wcajmg@gmail.com, telephone (206) 419-3998 after 5 pm, or Ben Skwiercz, bens@halcyon.com, telephone (425) 941-4651.

Local Post winners compete at the District level in December, and District winners advance to the state.


All entries must be in to Farwell Roosevelt VFW Post 2713 by Oct. 31, 2020 at 3601 SW Alaska Street, Seattle, WA 98126. 

Also note that you can get entry forms and rules by following the links above, or find information/links for all three categories

Education, Patriots Pen, Scholarship, Voice of Democracy, Youth Essay

2015-2016 VFW Scholarship Awards Now Open for Submission

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Voice of Democracy 2015-16 “My Vision for America”

1st Place – $100 2nd Place – $50 3rd Place – $25

State level prizes range from $400 – $1,200

National level prizes range from $1,000 – $30,000

Each year, more than 45,000 high school students from across the country enter to win a share of the $2.2 million in educational scholarships and incentives awarded through the VFW’s Voice of Democracy audio-essay competition.

Knowing that a democratic society needs nurturing, the VFW established the Voice of Democracy program (VOD) in 1947 to provide students grades 9-12 the opportunity to express themselves in regards to democratic ideas and principles.

Students should record their reading of the draft to a CD. The recording can be no shorter than three minutes and no longer than five minutes (plus or minus five seconds).

The national first-place winner receives a $30,000 scholarship paid directly to the recipient’s American university, college or vocational/technical school. Other national scholarships range from $1,000- $16,000 and the first-place winner from each (State) VFW Department wins an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C.

Patriot’s Pen 2015-16 Theme “What Freedom Means to Me”

1st Place – $75 2nd Place – $40 3rd Place – $20

State level prizes range from $50 – $700

National level prizes range from $500 – $5,000

VFW believes strongly in good citizenship and fostering patriotism. That’s why we encourage youthful minds to examine our nation’s history and their own experiences in modern American society through our Patriot’s Pen youth essay-writing contest.

Annually, roughly 126,000 students from grades 6-8 (nationwide) enter. One first-place winner from each state competes to win one of 46 national awards totaling $46,000. The national first-place winner wins $5,000 and an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C., in March.

Students draft a 300-400 word essay, expressing their views based on an — always patriotic — annual theme chosen by the VFW Commander-in-Chief.

Youth Essay * 2015-16 Theme “Why is America my favorite Country”

1st Place – $50 2nd Place – $25 3rd Place – $15

State level prizes range from $50 – $100

*This is a State of Washington program only not National (yet)

This essay contest is for grades 3 thru 5. This is exclusively awarded by the VFW Department of Washington. Judging is done at the Local Post, District and State levels. The state winner will receive a Savings Bond. Youth Essay Entry Form