Community, Youth and Veteran Programs supported by the VFW and our Post
The Scout of the Year program is open to Eagle Scouts, Girl Scout Gold Award, Venture Summit Award recipients and Sea Scout Quartermaster recipients. VFW’s Scout of the Year offers a first place $5,000 scholarship, a second place $3,000 scholarship and a $1,000 third place scholarship each year.
While you’re visiting a school, don’t miss the opportunity to mention the Smart/Maher VFW National Citizenship Education Teachers Award. The VFW wants to identify and recognize America’s best educators who instill a sense of national pride in students. Teachers who promote civic responsibility, flag etiquette and patriotism are prime candidates. It offers cash awards, commemorative plaques and all-expense paid trips to the VFW National Conventions for those worthy teachers. That honor can establish a great relationship that opens the door for all of the VFW and Auxiliary programs. Additional information concerning the execution of the program can be found at www.vfw.org, behind the login within the VFW Training and Support hub, under Community Service.
Similar to Patriot’s Pen, is the Voice of Democracy Audio/Essay Contest. Since 1947, the VFW has asked high school students to write and record a 3 – 5 minute essay, again on a patriotic theme selected by the VFW each year. Students may record on an audio CD or flash drive. Like Patriot’s Pen, Voice of Democracy winners receive scholarships and other incentives at the Post, District, and Department and finally to the National level where they will compete for the $30,000 first place scholarship. The Voice of Democracy theme and additional information concerning the execution of the program can be found at www.vfw.org.
These two great youth scholarship programs provide over $3 million in scholarships and incentives every year.
Originally created as the Youth Essay Contest, Patriot’s Pen asks junior high and middle school students to write a 300-400 word essay on a new patriotic theme each year. Winners receive scholarships and begin by competing at the Post level. Winners proceed to District, Department and finally to the National level where they compete for the $5,000 first place scholarship. The themes and additional information concerning program execution can be found at www.vfw.org.