Voice of Democracy

The Voice of Democracy is an annual national audio essay contest that is designed to foster patriotism by giving high school students in grades 9th through 12th the opportunity to voice their opinion about their personal obligations as an American and address their responsibility to our country. Created in 1947, the scholarship program annually provides more than $2.5 million in scholarships. Contestants write and record a three to five minute essay on an annual theme.

Each Department's first-place winner receives an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C., plus the opportunity to compete for national scholarships. All State winners receive at least $1000 and the first-place national winner receives a $30,000 scholarship.
 

YOU TOO CAN WIN $30,000!

WHO CAN ENTER:
The Voice of Democracy Program is open to students in grades 9-12, who are enrolled in a public, private or parochial high school or home study program in the United States and its territories.

HOW TO ENTER:
Students should first draft their essay based on the 2011-2012 theme: "Is There Pride in Serving in Our Military?" Students should then record their reading of the draft to a CD. The recording should be no shorter than 3 minutes and no longer than 5 minutes (plus or minus 5 seconds).

Entries begin at the Post level. Once the student has created their essay and completed burning the audio version to a CD, they should submit their typed version, CD and the Voice of Democracy entry form to their local participating VFW Post no later than November 1, 2011.

JUDGING CRITERIA:
Originality is worth 30 points: Treatment of the theme should show imagination and human interest

Content is worth 35 points: Clearly express your ideas in an organized manner. Fully develop your theme and use transitions to move smoothly from one idea to the other.

Delivery is worth 35 points: Speak in a clear and credible manner.

The 2011-2012 theme is
 "Is there Pride in Serving in Our Military?"
Deadline for entries is Nov. 1, 2011.
 

VFW Post 6899 and Ladies Auxiliary award local VOD scholarships:

First  Place: $500
Second  Place: $300
Third  : $200

• We will submit the winning entry to VFW District 19 for for competition within our District. Scholarship is awarded if money is available.

• The District winning entry will be submitted to Department of Texas VFW for competition at the state level. Winners will receive awards at each of these levels.

• The State winning entry will be submitted to National VFW for national competition and there are more than twenty awards at this level and winner of  competition will receive a $30,000 scholarship.

All students interested in entering the Voice of Democracy Contest should contact their school counselor or VFW Post 6899 at 936-594-9467 or email at info@vfwpost6899.org.

Mail applications to:

Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6899
PO Box 883
Trinity, TX 75862

Attn: Scholarship Committee

Voice of Democracy Helpful Hints 

1.  Your essay should be typed on a clean sheet of paper.  

                A. No letterhead paper.
                B. No school name.
                C. No town name.
                D. Type name on essay.      

2.  Use a new good-quality cassette tape.  CD is the best quality.  

A.  No background noise.  Music or any other noise can cause the tape or CD to be disqualified.
B. Do not identify yourself or school on the tape or CD. The only thing spoken on the tape should be your essay.
C. Audio essay must be in your own voice.
D. Use a stopwatch and make sure that your speech is between 3 to 5 minutes.  (+ or – 5 seconds). Any audio essay whose time is above or below these parameters will be disqualified.
E. Label your CD or cassette tape on the outside with a series of numbers. Example: 2469.
F. Remember, judging will be done solely on the audio tape or CD presentation.                                              
G. Delivery is worth 35 points.             

3.  Three items should be submitted to VFW Post 6899: 

            A. Application
            B. Tape or CD
            C. Typed essay

 

Site designed and maintained by S. G. McLeod
Contact us at info@vfwpost6899.org