Veterans of Foreign Wars is now accepting entries for its National 2022-23 Voice of Democracy and Patriot’s Pen youth scholarship competitions.

The VFW is dedicated to promoting patriotism and investing in our future generations. Daniel D. Fernandez, Los Lunas VFW Post 9676 is inviting high school students and middle school students to compete for more than $3.4 million in scholarships and educational incentive awards.

The first competition is known as the Voice of Democracy Patriotic Audio Essay Competition for students in grades 9-12. Students compete by writing and recording an audio essay on an annual patriotic theme. This year the VOD theme is “Why Is the Veteran Important.”  The VFW will award $171,000 in VOD scholarships at its national convention with the top scholarship this year being $35,000.

VOD Audio Essay competitors can be awarded prizes and scholarships at the post, district and department (state) levels prior to the VFW National Convention. All department (state) VOD winners will receive an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C., to be honored by the VFW and its Auxiliary and receive their portion of the $171,000 in scholarships awarded at the VFW National Convention.

All national qualified VOD competitors will receive at least $1,000 scholarship with the first-place winner receiving a $35,000 scholarship.

Last year, a Belen High School student was the New Mexico Department VOD winner and, at no cost to him, was flown to Washington, D.C., to compete for the top national scholarships.

The Patriot’s Pen competition is for students in grades 6-8, with the theme, “My Pledge to Our Veterans.” Patriot’s Pen competitors can receive prizes and scholarships at the post, district and department (state) levels. Department (state) Patriot’s Pen winners will receive a portion of the $55,000 in national scholarship awards. All national qualified Patriot’s Pen competitors will receive at least $500, with the first-place winner receiving a $5,000 scholarship.

The process for submitting entry applications for the VOD Audio Essay and Patriot’s Pen Written Essay competitions has been made much easier. Send Voice of Democracy entries to scholarsapp.com/scholarship/vfw-voice-of-democracy-new-mexico-district-2-post-9676

Send Patriot’s Pen Student entries to scholarsapp.com/scholarship/vfw-patriot-s-pen-new-mexico-district-2-post-9676

The deadline for both competitions is Monday, Oct. 31.  Students can learn more about both these VFW scholarship opportunities by visiting the Daniel D. Fernandez VFW Post 9676 website at vfw9676.org. For more information, call committee chairman Jack Lovato at 505-550-4076.

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