Veterans of Foreign Wars John W. Tiffany Post 53 will sponsor its annual Voice of Democracy and Patriots Pen Scholarship programs for the 2024-25 school year.

The VFW is dedicated to promoting patriotism and investing in future generation. High school students can earn a $35,000 college scholarship while middle school students can win $5,000 in scholarships.

The Voice of Democracy audio-essay program provides high school students with the opportunity to express themselves regarding a democratic and patriotic-themed recorded essay. Each year, 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 Voice of Democracy theme for this year is “Is America Today Our Forefathers’ Vision?”

Students in sixth through eighth grades enter the VFW’s Patriot’s Pen youth essay contest for a chance to win their share of $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. The 2024-2025 theme for the written essay in the Patriots Pen is “My Voice in America’s Democracy?”

Information is available in the Southwestern, Jamestown, Falconer, Frewsburg central school districts along with Bethel Baptist Christian Academy. Students interested in participating should contact their school officials for additional information.

Home school students and others interested or with questions should contact VFW Post 53 Commander William Johnston at 716-499-3731 for further information. All entries must be submitted by midnight Oct. 31.