VFW Post 11435 Community Programs

Voice of Democracy Essay Contest 2007-2008

Theme
"My Role in Honoring America's Veterans "*
Entry Deadline
Nov. 1, 2007

Created in 1947, the Voice of Democracy (VOD) scholarship program is an audio-essay contest for high school students in grades 9-12 that annually provides more than $3 million in scholarships. The first-place winner, who competes with all the first-place VFW Department winners, receives a $30,000 scholarship that is paid directly to the recipient’s American university, college or vocational/technical school.

Besides competing for the top scholarship prize, as well as other national scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $16,000, each Department's first-place winner receives an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C., sponsored by Target.

The VOD program is endorsed by the National Association of Secondary School Principals' and is designed to foster patriotism by allowing students the opportunity to voice their opinion in a three to five minute essay based on an annual theme.

How to Enter:
Students can enter by submitting the required entry form, along with their essay and recording to VFW Post 11435.

*Historically, the theme (annually chosen by the VFW commander-in-chief) is purposely kept broad in scope to allow the participant flexibility in interpretation to encourage originality. Since the VFW is a patriotic organization, the annual theme always will be related to patriotism.

In 2006 , Rachel Williamsen, a senior at Kadena High School, Okinawa, Japan, sponsored by VFW Post 11435, won a $1,000 scholarship award in this contest at the national level.