Department of Oregon is proud to sponsor scholarship opportunities for Youth in our communities.
The VFW is dedicated to promoting patriotism and investing in our future generation. If you are a democracy-loving high school student interested in a $35,000 college scholarship or a patriotic middle school student interested in winning $5,000, these two scholarships may be for you.
Voice of Democracy
Established
in 1947, our Voice of Democracy audio-essay program provides
high school students with the unique opportunity to express themselves in
regards to a democratic and patriotic-themed recorded essay. Each year,
nearly 25,000 ninth through 12th grade students from across the country enter
to win their share of more than $1 million in educational scholarships and
incentives awarded through the program.
The
national first place winner receives a $35,000 scholarship paid directly to the
recipient’s American university, college or vocational/technical school. A
complete list of other national scholarships range from $1,000-$21,000, and the
first place winner from each VFW Department (state) wins at least a scholarship
of $1,000. Before submitting your essay, download the 2024-2025 entry form here and find your
sponsoring local VFW Post as applications must be
turned in by midnight, Oct. 31.
Patriot's
Pen
Each
year, nearly 68,800 students in sixth through eighth grades enter the
VFW’s Patriot’s Pen youth essay contest for a chance to win
their share of nearly $1 million in state and national awards. Each first place
state winner receives a minimum of $500 at the national level, and the national
first place winner wins $5,000!
The
essay contest encourages young minds to examine America’s history, along with
their own experiences in modern American society, by drafting a 300- to
400-word essay, expressing their views based on a patriotic theme chosen by the
VFW Commander-in-Chief. Before submitting your essay, download the 2024-2025 entry form here and find
your sponsoring local VFW Post as applications must be
turned in by midnight, Oct. 31.
Post 81
Did you know that the Department of Oregon has a department
wide Scholarship Program with up to Five [5] Department winners each year (as
funds allow). Each student will be awarded One Thousand dollars
[$1,000.00] paid directly to their school. The Scholarship is open to any
Child, Grand-Child or Great-Grandchild of a Department of Oregon VFW member,
who is presently in good standing, or was a member in good standing upon their
death. The student must be attending high school, public or private, or
be home schooled and be graduating the year of application. In addition,
the applicant must plan to attend a Community College, Vocational School,
College or University in the U.S. The Scholarship must be used within one [1]
year of graduation from high school as a full-time student.
The scholarship is known as the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 81 Scholarship.
The selection Criteria will be based on Student Curriculum,
involvement in School Activities and/or Community Service, a minimum 2.5 GPA
and a 300-word essay using the Voice of Democracy theme for the current year.
The deadline for the 2025 year is February 12, 2025. Mailed applications must be postmarked no later than this date. Emailed or hand delivered applications must be received by 3:00 pm. The winner(s) will be announced at the Department Convention in June.
Detailed rules can be found here.