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Click here to Read last years
National Patriots Pen Essay Winner |
Click here to Read
last years National Voice of Democracy Winner |
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PATRIOT’S PEN COMPETITION |
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2008-2009 Theme
"Why America’s Veterans Should be Honored”
Entry Deadline
Nov. 1, 2008
Patriot's Pen, a youth-essay writing contest endorsed by
the National Association of Secondary School Principals'
contest criteria, is a nationwide competition that
gives students in grades 6,7 and 8 the opportunity to
write essays expressing their views on democracy.
Annually, more than 115,000 students participate in the
contest.
Contestants write a 300-400 word essay based on an
annual patriotic theme. The first-place winner receives
a $10,000 savings bond and an all-expense-paid trip to
Washington D.C. The top national winners each receive a
savings bond anywhere from $1,000 to $10,000.
For more information contact
VFW National
Headquarters or
your local
VFW Post.
Student Information:
Students can enter by submitting the required entry
form, along with their essay, to a local VFW Post. To
find a post in your area,
click here
or look in the white pages of your local phone
directory. If you can't find a local VFW Post contact
VFW State Headquarters.
You may also call the VFW National Programs office
during normal business hours at 816-968-1117. Mail entry
form and essay to the local VFW post. Further directions
are listed on the entry form.
*Historically, the theme (annually chosen by the VFW
commander-in-chief) is purposely kept broad in scope to
allow the participant flexibility in interpretation to
encourage originality. Since the VFW is a patriotic
organization, the annual theme always will be related to
patriotism.
Patriot's Pen, a youth-essay writing contest endorsed by
the National Association of Secondary School Principals'
contest criteria, is a nationwide competition that
gives students in grades 6,7 and 8 the opportunity to
write essays expressing their views on democracy.
Annually, more than 115,000 students participate in the
contest.
Contestants write a 300-400 word essay based on an
annual patriotic theme. The first-place winner receives
a $10,000 savings bond and an all-expense-paid trip to
Washington D.C. The top national winners each receive a
savings bond anywhere from $1,000 to $10,000.
For more information contact
VFW National
Headquarters or
your local
VFW Post.
Student Information:
Students can enter by submitting the required entry
form, along with their essay, to a local VFW Post. To
find a post in your area,
click here
or look in the white pages of your local phone
directory. You may also call the VFW National Programs
office during normal business hours at 816-968-1117.
Mail entry form and essay to the local VFW post. Further
directions are listed on the entry form.
*Historically, the theme (annually chosen by the VFW
commander-in-chief) is purposely kept broad in scope to
allow the participant flexibility in interpretation to
encourage originality. Since the VFW is a patriotic
organization, the annual theme always will be related to
patriotism.
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VOICE OF DEMOCRACY
COMPETITION |
2008-2009 Theme
"Service and Sacrifice by America’s Veterans Benefit
Today’s Youth by ... "
Entry Deadline
Nov. 1, 2008
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., sponsored
by
Target.
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.
How to Enter:
Students can enter by submitting the required entry
form, along with their essay and recording to a local
VFW Post. To find a post in your area,
click here
or look in the white pages of your local phone
directory. You may also call the VFW National Programs
office during normal business hours at 816-968-1117.
Mail entry form and audio essay to the local VFW post.
Further directions are listed on the entry form.
For more information or questions, contact
VFW National
Headquarters or
VFW State Headquarters if you can't find a local VFW
Post.
*Historically, the theme (annually chosen by the VFW
commander-in-chief) is purposely kept broad in scope to
allow the participant flexibility in interpretation to
encourage originality. Since the VFW is a patriotic
organization, the annual theme always will be related to
patriotism. |
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The VFW's National Citizenship Education
Teachers' Award recognizes the nation's top elementary,
junior high and high school teachers who teach
citizenship education topics regularly and promote
America's history and traditions. Nearly 1,000 teachers
are from every state, the District of Columbia and
overseas. Fellow teachers, supervisors or other
interested individuals can submit nominations by
November 1 to your local Post.
To find out a Post in your area, contact your
State Headquarters.VFW's National citizenship
education teacher awards include:
$1,000 cash award for professional development to
each of the top K-5, 6-8 and 9-12 teachers;
$1,000 award for each winning teacher's school;
plaques for both the winning teacher and school;
an all-expense-paid trip to attend the VFW and
Ladies Auxiliary National Community Service Conference
in Washington, D.C. Teachers who win first place in each
category will be invited to conduct a workshop at the
conference.
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