Voice of Democracy
From vfwca.org. $500 to $35,000. Deadline October 31, 2026.
- Award
- $500 to $35,000
- Deadline
- October 31, 2026 12 days left
- Provider
- vfwca.org
- Who can apply
- Open to high school seniors. Must be permanent residents. Must be 19 or younger.
- Level
- High School Seniors
- Where
- Open nationwide (no state restriction listed)
- Essay
- Yes, 1 essay
- Documents
- Entry form, Essay, Recorded essay
Last checked October 19, 2026. Details come from the provider; confirm on the official site before you apply.
About this scholarship
Apply by email to youthscholarships@vfw.org. Include: Email is an alternate submission method only if the student cannot use Scholar's App; the student may submit their entry form, essay, and recorded essay via email or hard copy with the essay on a thumb drive to their local Post for judging. Requirements: Open to students in grades 9-12 enrolled in a public, private or parochial high school or home study program in the Unit; U.S. citizenship not required, but students must be lawful U.S. permanent residents or have applied for permanent reside; Foreign exchange students, students age 20 or over, previous Voice of Democracy first place state winners, GED or Adult ; Student must be the sole author of their essay.; Inappropriate use of Chat GPT or other AI tools is not allowed.; The recording must be in your own voice and in English.; No music, singing, poetry or sound effects are allowed.; The body of the essay must not identify the student in any way (including name, school, city, state, race, or national o.
Essay prompt
What a Veteran Taught Me About America.
Common questions
How much is the Voice of Democracy worth?
Awards range from $500 to $35,000.
When is the Voice of Democracy deadline?
The deadline is October 31, 2026. As of October 19, 2026, that is 12 days away.
Who can apply for the Voice of Democracy?
Open to high school seniors. Must be permanent residents. Must be 19 or younger. No state restriction is listed.
Does the Voice of Democracy require an essay?
Yes. The application asks for 1 essay. The first prompt is: "What a Veteran Taught Me About America.".
How do I apply for the Voice of Democracy?
Applications are sent by email to youthscholarships@vfw.org. Have these ready: Entry form, Essay, Recorded essay. Scholarly can also fill out and submit it for you after you review it.
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