If you are a democracy-loving high school student interested in a $30,000 college scholarship or a patriotic middle school student interested in winning $5,000, scholarships from the local Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9182 (VFW) may be for you.

But don’t delay – applications for both scholarships deadline on October 31.

Established in 1947, the Voice of Democracy audio-essay program provides high school students with the unique opportunity to express themselves in regard to a democratic and patriotic-themed recorded essay. Each year, nearly 64,500 9-12 grade students from across the country enter to win their share of $2.1 million in educational scholarships and incentives awarded through the program.

Local post winners will receive cash awards for first, second and third place. Winning entries will be forwarded to District 17 with those winners sent on to the VFW Department of Texas and those winners on to National. Cash or scholarship awards are made at each level. To apply, read the rules and eligibility requirements, download and complete the entry form at vfw.org/community/youth-and-education/youth-scholarships and submit to VFW Post 9182, Attn: Voice of Democracy, P.O. Box 37, Katy, TX 77492 by midnight, October 31, 2025.

Each year more than 165,000 students in grades 6-8 enter the VFW’s Patriot’s Pen youth essay contest. 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.

The national first-place winner wins $5,000 and an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C. The first-place winner from each state competes for national awards totaling $55,000, with each first-place state winner receiving a minimum of $500 at the national level.

Local post winners will receive cash awards for first, second and third place. Winning entries are sent to district with those winners sent on to the state level and those winners on to the national level. Cash or scholarship awards are made at each level. To apply, read the rules and eligibility requirements, download and complete the entry form at vfw.org/community/youth-and-education/youth-scholarships and submit to VFW Post 9182, Attn: Patriots Pen, P.O. Box 37, Katy, TX 77492 by midnight, October 31, 2025.