VFW Voice of Democracy Scholarship

The Veterans of Foreign Wars’ (VFW) Voice of Democracy is an audio-essay competition for high school students. Students write and record an audio essay on a patriotic theme, and compete for more than $2 million in scholarships and incentives awarded at the Post, District, state, and national levels.

2026–27 theme: “What a Veteran Taught Me About America”

Award: the national first-place winner receives a $35,000 scholarship, paid directly to their college or vocational/technical school. Other national scholarships range up to $21,000, and each state’s first-place winner wins at least $1,000 plus a trip to the Spirit of America Youth Leadership program at Valley Forge.

Eligibility:

• Students in grades 9–12 at a public, private, or parochial high school or home study program in the U.S.
• U.S. citizenship isn’t required, but students must be lawful permanent residents or have applied for permanent residence (and not been denied)
• Not open to foreign exchange students, students age 20 or older, or GED/adult education students
• The essay must be your own work, recorded in your own voice and in English (no AI writing, music, or sound effects)

How to apply: record a 3–5 minute audio essay (MP3) and submit it with a typed copy of your essay and the completed entry form to a participating local VFW Post (find one at vfw.org/FindaPost) by midnight, October 31, 2026. Contact the Post first: it will tell you how to turn in your entry. Questions? Email youthscholarships@vfw.org.