Sunday, September 14, 2008 — I know that a lot of parents are wondering how they will send their children to college.
A lot of parents are not aware of some opportunities available to their children.
Veterans of Foreign Wars sponsors some scriptwriting and essay competitions.
Their scholarship program is the Voice of Democracy. This is open to students in grades 9-12. Students compete by writing and recording a broadcast script on a patriotic theme. Prizes are awarded at the local, district, state and national level. State winners receive an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C., in April to tour the city, meet our nation’s leaders, be honored by the VFW and its Ladies Auxiliary and receive their portion of $148,000 in national awards, the top scholarship being $30.000.
The Patriot’s Pen competition is open to 6th-8th grade students. This VFW-sponsored essay competition gives students an opportunity to write essays expressing their views on democracy, with the prospect of winning U.S. savings bonds. This is based on a patriotic theme. Prizes are awarded at the local, district, state and national level. On the national level, the first place winner receives a $10,000 savings bond, with 16-45th place winners receiving a $1,000 savings bond.
The deadline for both is Nov. 1. Parents may contact the local VFW in their area for the rues, eligibility and judging criteria or parents may call me.
The third competition is sponsored by the Ladies Auxiliary Veterans of Foreign Wars. This is called Young American Creative Patriotic Art. It is an opportunity for students in grades 9-12 to be recognized for their expression of patriotism and artistic achievement. The National Ladies Auxiliary VFW will award a $10,000 scholarship to the first place winner, a plaque, airfare and lodging to the National Convention in August 2009. Six other awards will be presented ranging from $5,000-$500.
Students in private schools, pubic schools, parochial high schools or home study in the United States are eligible to enter in these competitions but all must be schooled in the state of their sponsoring VFW or Ladies Auxiliary VFW.
Contact me for rules, eligibility and judging criteria for these competitions.
Marge Smith
Ladies Auxiliary VFW
State Americanism Chairman
313 Allenton St.
Norwood, NC
