Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States/Tuition assistance
VFW Voice of Democracy
Amount variesNot guaranteedLimited number available
A recorded essay contest for years nine to twelve, sharing more than 1.6 million dollars. First place nationally is 35,000 dollars, and the first place winner in every state gets at least 1,000. There is no application beyond the essay itself, and entries close on 31 October.
1,000 dollars is the least a state first place winner receives and 35,000 is the national first prize, with other national awards up to 21,000. Nearly 28,000 students enter each year, so most receive nothing. The national prize is paid to your college or vocational school rather than to you.
Closes in 13 days, 31 October 2026
What you need
The official page does not list required documents. Check the official page before you apply, since a provider can ask for paperwork it does not publish.
How to apply
- 1Record an audio essay on this year's themeThe 2026 to 2027 theme is “What a Veteran Taught Me About America”. It is a recorded audio essay rather than a written one, which is what most entrants get wrong about this contest.
- 2Find the VFW Post that sponsors your area and submit thereEntries go to a local participating Post with a completed entry form, not to the national organisation. Use the Post finder on the page to identify yours.
Where this comes from
- Last checked by SCRN
- 2026-09-03Verified null days ago
- How it was verified
- Checked against the official page by a person at SCRN
- Source level
- Provider verifiedRead from the provider's own page.
- Deadline
- 31 October 2026Entries must reach a participating VFW Post by midnight on 31 October. Finding the Post that sponsors your area is part of the work, so leave more than a day for it.
- How often
- annual