Commander Paula Lundgren of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. (VFW) Post 1902 announced the kick-off of this year’s VFW’s Voice of Democracy Scholarship competition. Local high school students have the opportunity to compete for thousands of dollars in scholarships.
Students must write and record a three-to-five minute essay on the selected theme using an audio CD or flash drive and present their recording, typed essay, and completed entry form to their local VFW Post by October 31. The 2020 theme is “Is This the Country the Founders Envisioned.” Students begin by competing at the local Post level, then Post winners compete at the District level with the winner advancing to the state competition.
All state first-place winners compete for their share of more than $150,000 in scholarships. The first-place winner receives a $30,000 college scholarship.
The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) started the Voice of Democracy Scholarship program in 1947. The VFW became a national sponsor in the late 1950s and assumed sole responsibility for the program in 1961. The competition was created to provide students grades 9-12 the opportunity to express themselves in regard to democratic ideas and principles.
Around 64,446 students participate in the competition each year and VFW awards more than $2.1 million in educational scholarships every year.
Interested students and teachers should contact the Voice of Democracy Auxiliary Chairman Pam DeLage by phone at 218-289-5075 or email at pdelage@out.com for more information.
For details, visit www.vfw.org/VOD
