VFW Post 2948 announces scholarship competitions

Students begin by competing at the local Post level. Post winners advance to District. District winners compete in the state competition. The state winners compete for $46,000 in awards, and the first place winner wins $5,000. Each year, around 126,000 students participate nationwide.

Students are welcome to write a 300- to 400-word essay on a patriot theme. The theme for 2012-13, which is the 18th year of the contest, is “What I Would Tell America’s Founding Fathers.”

Deadline for student entries is Nov. 1.

Randolph also announced the kick-off of the 66th year of the VFW and its Ladies Auxiliary Voice of Democracy Scholarship Competition.

Local high school students have the opportunity to compete for thousands of dollars in scholarships and a trip to Washington, D.C.

Students begin by competing at the local post level with a deadline of Nov. 1. Post winners advance to District and then the first place District winner advances to the state competition. All state winners receive a four-day trip to Washington, D.C.

A total of $152,000 is awarded to national finalists. First place is $30,000. Annually the VFW provides more than $2.3 million in scholarships. Each year, around 50,000 students participate in the competition.

Students must write and record a three-to-five-minute essay on this theme for 2012-13, “Is Our Constitution Still Relevant?” on an audio cassette tape or audio CD and present their recording, typed essay, and entry form at their local VFW Post.

Students and teachers interested in the Patriot’s Pen Essay Competition and the Voice of Democracy Scholarship Competition should contact local VFW Post 2948 by calling 286-3099 or write to the Post at P.O. Box 187, International Falls, MN 56649, for more information.

For details, visit www.vfw.org/Community/Patriot-s-Pen/ and www.vfw.org/Community/Voice-of-Democracy/.