2025-2026 Voice of Democracy

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The VFW Voice of Democracy program for 2025-2026 invites high school students to submit audio-essays on the theme "How Are You Showing Patriotism and Support for Our Country," with a total of $2.4 million in scholarships available.

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Program Details

 

• Eligibility: The competition is open to high school students in grades 9-12. 

• Theme: The theme for the 2025-2026 competition is "How Are You Showing Patriotism and Support for Our Country?" This theme encourages students to reflect on their personal experiences and expressions of patriotism. 

• Scholarships: The national first-place winner will receive a $35,000 scholarship, with additional scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $21,000 available for other winners. The total scholarship pool for the program is approximately $2.4 million. 

 

Important Dates

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• Entry Deadline: All entries must be submitted by midnight on October 31, 2025. Students should submit their audio-essays along with a completed entry form to their local VFW Post (see below). 

• Submission Process: Participants must record a 3-5 minute audio essay and provide a typed version of the essay along with the entry form 2025-2026 entry form . The recording must be in the student's own voice, and the use of AI tools is prohibited. ​

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Please Submit all entries by the required due dates to:​​

 

Strongsville VFW Post 3345

17900 Strongsville Blvd

Strongsville, Ohio 44149​

 

Attn: Tad Brown, Senior Vice Commander

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