Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Scholarship: Review
by
Indigo Research Team
&
Published:
July 30, 2024
Last Updated:
September 10, 2024
Finding funds to cater for education can be overwhelming, hence the youth scholarship from Veterans of Foreign Wars Scholarship is a good idea. It’s an esteemed scholarship that cultivates patriotism and devotion to one’s country as one chases their educational ambitions.
This all-encompassing guide will help you if you are a student, parent, or any other person who wants more information about the VFW Youth Scholarship and how to apply successfully.
Keep reading!
The Veterans of Foreign Wars Youth Scholarship is intended to help young people get an education while encouraging patriotism and civic responsibility. Among its main programs is the Voice of Democracy audio essay competition for high school students.
For this annual contest, students have to make a recording on a theme relating to democracy and patriotism chosen by the VFW Commander-in-Chief. Entries must be in English, three to five minutes long, and should not include singing, dancing or sound effects.
Judges will rate your submission on a 100-point scale divided into three categories: Originality (30 points) based on imagination and human interest, Content (35 points) focusing on clarity and idea development, and Delivery (35 points), which rates how you speak when narrating the essay.
Winners are requested to present their essays at the VFW Parade of Winners held in Washington DC. They also provide tuition fee assistance for this prestigious scholarship
That means that first-place winner receives $35k. First-place recipients from any VFW Department shall receive at least $1k. It is worth mentioning that during 2022-23, there were 53 awardees, with second place getting $21K and third getting $15K, respectively.
To qualify for VFW Youth Scholarships, there are certain qualifications that must be met:
*Note: Students who have previously won the national first-place prize in the Voice of Democracy contest cannot compete again.
Application processes for the veteran's foreign wars scholarship are always simple but detail-oriented. Adhere to these guidelines and you will have a complete and competitive submission.
Keep in mind that submissions close on October 31st, 2024! Use the VFW Post locator tool to get the nearest post.
This achievement will be an excellent asset on your college application and that’s why it would be great to win in this case. Basically, a victory in the Voice of Democracy competition demonstrates that one has good communication skills, a firm understanding of democratic values, and an active commitment to the community.
As mentioned earlier, the first-place winner gets a $35,000 scholarship and this amount is among the largest awards available for any form of military-related scholarship in America. Getting second or third place also contributes significant financial support with amounts worth $21,000 and $15,000 respectively.
The big financial aid will help students pay for their education without needing to acquire loans from banks.
The VFW Voice of Democracy competition is unique among military scholarships in that it does not require applicants to have a family member who has served in the U.S. military.
This inclusion extends chances to many students who might not be having direct contact with military personnel but still have a deep love for their country.
To apply for the Veterans of foreign wars voice of democracy competition, all you need are a few documents. A recorded audio essay, typed text of the essay and completed entry form is what students should submit.
But even though the VFW Voice of Democracy scholarship is highly prestigious, it might not matter much if your aim is to major in something that isn’t remotely military or policy-related. Therefore it may have little implications especially if you have chosen an unrelated course. In addition, this signifies that your portfolio will also gain from these qualities.
Also, consider many other high school or college essay writing contests that are available if you are interested in different fields.
However, different from many other awards that evaluate applicants based on personal experiences, selection for VFW scholarships is wholly determined by the content of essays only.
This overlooks diversity and inclusion like these. Hence, it may disadvantage students with unique perspectives based on their backgrounds and experience.
The evaluation standards of the competition, which stress a lot on the essay delivery, can be limiting. This emphasis may disadvantage non-native English speakers and those with unique accents.
This competition thus inadvertently sidelines excellent content and unique perspectives, potentially narrowing the range of recognized voices in the contest
With about 25,000 submissions annually but only 53 scholarships given out, Voice of Democracy is a highly competitive scholarship. Though winning it brings great prestige to your own achievements; however due to its low acceptance rate success odds are very slim.
To win a scholarship, one must prepare adequately and present an extraordinary essay. Here are some helpful strategies for navigating the application process and improving your chances of success in this prestigious contest.
Be familiar with the current year's theme and VFW essay judging criteria. The essay must align with the theme while addressing key areas that judges look at such as originality content delivery etc
You need to practice delivering your speech several times because it will be recorded on audio tape, which you will submit as part of your entry. Speak clearly with good diction, neither too fast nor too slowly; use appropriate intonations.
Avoid speaking monotonously and learn how to utilize pauses in highlighting certain points in your speech. Make an audio recording of yourself then listen for eventual improvements that can be made.
Hand over your VFW essay to teachers, family members, or mentors and request for their views about it. Constructive criticism helps you to sieve your content further, polish the way through which you presented the facts, and rectify any unnoticed mistakes. Improve your submission by including your ideas.
Perform comprehensive editing as well as proofreading of your essay so that it is free from spelling and grammatical errors. A polished essay shows the meticulousness of the author; thus demanding keenness in its writing process and presentation. It may be advisable to use some grammar-checking software or a spell checker, but also make sure you go over your VFW essay manually, looking at nuances.
Ensure that you meticulously follow all competition guidelines such as the essay length (three to five minutes when read aloud), and format (audio recording plus typed version) among other specific instructions if there are any. Avoiding these rules could lead to being disqualified.
Begin to work on your essay long before the deadline. This will allow you enough time to think about it, write it out, rewrite it as well as practice it. Avoiding last-minute rushes that may affect its quality.
The Veteran of Foreign Wars scholarship provides an invaluable opportunity that fosters patriotism and public involvement while supporting educational goals. Winning also earns you recognition from the VFW and other professionals plus a scholarship worth $35,000 dollars. Increase your chances by following the tips given above and understanding the criteria provided.
The Veteran of Foreign Wars scholarship fosters patriotism and public involvement while supporting educational goals. Similarly, the Indigo Research program helps you stand out by showcasing your dedication to academic and community engagement through meaningful research.
