How to Enter:
Students can enter by submitting the required entry form, along with their essay and recording to
VFW Post 2399.
Students can pick up an entry form from you school or call the Post Quartermaster's Office.
Mail entry form and audio essay to the VFW, or you can drop it by our offices.
Further directions are listed on the entry form.
History
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.
The VOD program is endorsed by the National Association of Secondary School Principals' contest criteria 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.
Post first-place winner receives $500.
District first-place winner receives _______
Department first-place winner recieves $3000