2008-2009 Theme

" Service and Sacrifice by America’s Veterans Benefits Today’s Youth by "

Entry Deadline

Nov. 1, 2008

The Voice of Democracy, endorsed by the National Association of Secondary School Principals' contest criteria, is an audio essay contest for high school students in grades 9-12. The annual contest, which is designed to foster patriotism, allows students the opportunity to voice their opinion in a three to five minute essay based on an annual theme.

Created in 1947, the scholarship program annually provides more than $3 million in scholarships. Each Department's first-place winner receives an all-expense-paid trip to Washington , D.C. , plus the opportunity to compete for national scholarships. The first-place national winner receives a $25,000 scholarship.

Click here for Student Entry Form

2008-2009 Theme

" Why America’s Veterans Should be Honored "

Entry Deadline

Nov. 1, 2008

Patriot's Pen, a youth-essay writing contest endorsed by the National Association of Secondary School Principals' contest criteria , is a nationwide competition that gives students in grades 6,7 and 8 the opportunity to write essays expressing their views on democracy. Annually, more than 115,000 students participate in the annual contest.

Contestants write a 300-400 word essay based on an annual patriotic theme. The first-place winner receives a $10,000 savings bond and an all-expense-paid trip to Washington D.C. The top national winners each receive a savings bond anywhere from $1,000 to $10,000.

Click here for Student Entry Form

2008-2009

Teacher of the Year Award

The VFW's National Citizenship Education Teachers' Award recognizes the nation's

top elementary, junior high and high school teachers who teach citizenship education topics

regularly and promote America 's history and traditions. Nearly 1,000 teachers are from every State, the District of Columbia and overseas. Fellow teachers, supervisors or other interested individuals can submit nominations by November 1 to your local Post.

VFW's National citizenship education teacher awards include $1,000 cash award for professional development to each of the top K-5, 6-8. 9-12 teachers $1,000 award for each winning teacher's school Plaques for both the winning teacher and school. An all-expense paid trip to attend the VFW and Ladies Auxiliary National Community Service Conference in Washington , D.C. Teachers who win first place in each catrgory will be invited to conduct a workshop at the conference.