Dandridge VFW Post 3380 Announces Student Scholarship Competitions

Dandridge VFW Post 3380 is accepting entries for the Veterans of Foreign Wars’ two national youth scholarship programs, Patriot’s Pen and Voice of Democracy. Local students are encouraged to participate for the opportunity to earn scholarships while honoring America’s veterans through writing.

This year’s theme for both contests is “What a Veteran Taught Me About America.”

The Patriot’s Pen competition is open to students in grades 6-8. Since 1995, the program has encouraged middle school students to write a 300- to 400-word essay on a patriotic theme. More than 66,000 students participate each year, competing for over $1 million in scholarships and awards.

The Voice of Democracy competition is open to students in grades 9-12. Established in 1947, it asks students to write and record a patriotic essay. Nearly 57,000 high school students compete annually for more than $2 million in scholarships. Last year, VFW Post 3380 awarded more than $2000 in scholarships to area students.

Students attending public, private, parochial, or home schools are eligible to enter if they meet the program requirements. Entries must be the student’s own original work. The use of artificial intelligence programs, including ChatGPT and similar tools, is not permitted.

Students should submit their entries through the Scholar’s App Scholarship Platform using the QR code provided by Dandridge VFW Post 3380. Students who are unable to submit online may contact the Post for alternate submission options.

The deadline for all entries is October 31, 2026 to VFW Post 3380.

Teachers, parents, and school administrators are encouraged to share these scholarship opportunities with eligible students.

For more information, contact William Reynolds, Youth Scholarship Chairman for Dandridge VFW Post 3380, at willreynolds4030@gmail.com or visit vfw3380.org.