Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW)
Voice of Democracy Audio-Essay Program
Established in 1947, the Voice of Democracy audio-essay program provides high school students in grades 9-12 with the opportunity to express themselves regarding a democratic and patriotic theme. National winners receive scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $35,000 paid directly to their American university, college, or vocational school.
Award
Up to $35,000
Deadline
October 31 (annually)
Level
Undergraduate
Status
Usually due October 31 – see sponsor site for updates
Your scholarship score ?/100 | HBCUscholarships.net
- Application effort
- Medium (essay)
- Who can apply
- Undergraduate students
See how well this award fits your profile, how much competition to expect, and how much work the application takes.
Who is eligible
- Must be a high school student in grades 9 through 12
- Must plan to attend an American university, college, or vocational/technical school
What you'll need
- Audio-essay: A recorded essay on a democratic and patriotic theme
- Completed Voice of Democracy entry form
How to apply
- Download and complete the Voice of Democracy entry form.
- Write and record an audio-essay on the designated patriotic theme.
- Locate a sponsoring local VFW Post.
- Submit the entry form, recording, and typed essay to the local VFW Post by the October 31, 2025 deadline.
Sources & verification
- Official listing:
- https://www.vfw.org
- How this listing was added:
- Summarized from vfw.org
- Last checked:
Deadlines and amounts change. Always verify details with Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) before submitting.
Have a question about this scholarship?
Ask other HBCU students, scholarship winners, and counselors in the community.