Apply for Voice of Democracy Scholarship Competition. Record a short audio essay, share your voice, and compete for awards up to $35,000.
What is the Voice of Democracy program?
The Voice of Democracy program is an annual audio-essay competition and scholarship initiative organized by the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) in the United States. High school students (grades 9–12) write and record a patriotic/democracy-themed essay on a yearly theme (3–5 minutes spoken). Submissions compete at Post (local), District, Department (state), and National levels for scholarships and recognition.
Purpose: foster civic awareness, patriotism, and students’ ability to express views on democratic values.
Key features — structure & competition levels
Competition tiers:
- Local / Post level: Submit typed essay, audio recording, and entry form to a participating VFW Post. Posts judge and select winners to advance.
- District level: Winning Post entries within a District compete; district winners advance to Department level.
- Department / State level: Each Department runs a competition. First-place Department winners advance to National.
- National level: Department winners compete nationally for national scholarships and honors.
To reach National, entries typically advance: Post → District → Department → National.
Eligibility
- Grade level: Must be in grades 9–12 on the entry deadline.
- Type of schooling: Public, private, parochial, and home-schooled students are eligible.
- Citizenship/residency: Entrants may include U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, or those with pending residency intent; foreign exchange students are typically not eligible; dependents of U.S. personnel overseas may be eligible under specific rules.
- Original work: Essay and audio must be original and produced by the student; reuse of prior winning entries is disallowed for that winning slot.
- Past winners: Past first-place Department winners are typically ineligible to compete again for that Department first-place slot.
Follow the official rules published for the contest year; some fine rules may change annually.
How to apply — step by step
- Get the theme and materials: Obtain the current year’s theme, entry form, and rules from your local VFW Post or Department. The 2025–2026 theme is: “How Are You Showing Patriotism and Support for Our Country?”
- Write the essay: Draft a typed essay that, when read aloud at a natural pace, runs between 3 and 5 minutes. Time drafts by reading aloud to hit the target range.
- Record the audio: Produce a clear spoken recording that matches the typed essay verbatim. Use a quiet room and monitor recording levels.
- Complete the entry form: Fill out the official entry form fully. Do not include identifying information inside the essay text.
- Package the submission: Include the typed essay, audio recording, and completed entry form per your Post’s submission instructions. Label files or media per the instructions.
- Submit by the student deadline: Deliver or upload your entry to the participating VFW Post before the student deadline.
Contact your local Post early to confirm whether they accept digital uploads or require physical media; procedures vary by Post and Department.
Recording & delivery
- Quiet environment: Use a still, low-reverb room; soft surfaces help.
- Microphone: A USB condenser or good mobile mic is sufficient; avoid clipping.
- File format & quality: Common accepted formats include MP3 or WAV; record at standard sample rates (44.1 kHz or 48 kHz).
- Delivery matches script: The recorded audio must read the typed essay exactly.
- No music or sound effects: Do not add music, singing, or non-speech effects; the entry must be a spoken delivery only.
Judging & criteria
Common judging categories and typical weighting:
- Originality (≈30%) — fresh perspective and authentic voice.
- Content (≈35%) — organization, relevance to the theme, and argument strength.
- Delivery (≈35%) — clarity, diction, pacing, and emotional emphasis.
Record multiple takes, review them, and get feedback before finalizing the submission.
Winners & awards
The national first-place scholarship has been $35,000 in recent years. Additional national-level scholarships range from $1,000 to $21,000 depending on the award slot. Department-level first-place winners typically receive at least $1,000 plus event participation or travel. Local Post awards and recognitions vary by Post.
Scholarship payments are usually sent to the educational institution the student will attend. The 2025–2026 competition awards total more than $2.4 million across all levels.
Deadlines & timeline
Timeline for the 2025–2026 cycle:
| Round | Student-level deadline | Award |
|---|---|---|
| Student (Early / Priority) | November 15, 2025 | $8,000–$10,000 |
| Student (Regular) | February 1, 2026 | $3,000–$7,500 |
| Student (Late) | May 15, 2026 | $1,000–$3,000 |
After the student deadline: Posts forward winning entries to District (by November), District winners move to Department (typically by early December), and Department winners are sent to National by the Department deadline. Processing and national decisions can take several weeks.
Renewal, scope & regions
Voice of Democracy awards are one-time scholarships. Winning a national prize does not automatically renew in future years. The program is offered across all U.S. states and territories via VFW Departments and participating Posts; dependents of U.S. personnel overseas may be eligible under specific rules.
Strengths, considerations & tips
- Start early: Contact your local VFW Post well before the deadline to confirm participation and submission format.
- Practice delivery: Rehearse the essay until pacing and emphasis improve clarity and impact.
- Quality recording: Ensure a noise-free recording with clear diction; multiple takes help.
- Follow rules exactly: File naming, labeling, and submission format mistakes often cause disqualification.
- Seek feedback: Have a teacher or mentor review the typed essay and a practice recording before submission.
Submission checklist
- Typed essay (do not include identifying info in the essay text)
- Audio recording (matches typed essay exactly)
- Completed official entry form (per Post/Department rules)
- Files/media labeled per instructions
- Submit to local VFW Post by the student deadline
If you do not yet know your local Post, ask your school advisor or community contacts to identify a participating Post and confirm local submission rules.
