Scholarship Programs

VFW Post 5265 participates in the following scholarship programs.

Patriot’s Pen Essay Contest

Patriot‘s Pen gives 6th, 7th and 8th grade students the opportunity to express their opinion on a patriotic theme and improve their writing skills, while they compete for awards and prizes. Cumulatively, the awards provided from all levels of the competition approaches $1.2 million each year. Department (state) winners compete for $92,000 in U.S. Savings Bonds at the national level with the first place winner receiving a $10,000 U.S. Savings Bond in Washington, D.C., in March each year.

The theme for the 2011-2012 Patriot's Pen Essay Content is "Are You Proud of Your Country?". Entries are due to the post no later than November 1, 2011.

View and print the 2011-2012 Patriot's Pen entry form.

Voice of Democracy Scholarship Competition

The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) started the Voice of Democracy Scholarship Competition in 1946. The Veterans of Foreign Wars became a national sponsor in the late 1950s and assumed sole responsibility for the program in 1961. Many notables have participated in the Voice of Democracy including journalist Charles Kuralt, Miss America Anita Bryant and former U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft. The Voice of Democracy competition provides high school freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors the opportunity to write and record a broadcast script on a patriotic theme, competing for more than $2.1 million in college scholarships and incentives. Department (state) winners are brought to Washington, D.C., in March to enjoy our nation‘s capital and compete for $149,000 in scholarships.

The theme for the 2011-2012 Voice of Democracy Scholarship Competition is "Is There Pride in Serving in Our Military?". Entries are due to the post no later than November 1, 2011.

View and print the 2011-2012 Voice of Democracy entry form.

Local Scholarships

VFW Post 5265 also provides several direct scholarships from the post as well as the Ladies Auxiliary. Scholarships are available to high school senior students in the Spring Grove Area School District. Students should see their school guidance counselor for information on applying for these scholarships.