Patriot Pen essay contest winner Ella Brassow advanced to state level after winning first place in the Wimberley Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6441 local, and then district contests. Ella received an additional $500 prize from the district and went on to take eighth place at the state level for her essay on how she is inspired by America. Each year, nearly 68,800 students in sixth through eighth grades enter the VFW’s Patriot’s Pen youth essay contest for a chance to win their share of nearly $1 million in state and national awards. Each first place state winner receives a minimum of $500 at the national level and the national first place winner wins $5,000.
The essay contest encourages students to examine America’s history, along with their own experiences in modern American society, by drafting a 300to 400-word essay that expresses their views on a patriotic theme chosen by the VFW Commander-in-Chief.
Voice of Democracy Winner Joseph Hill received second place at the district level for his audio essay on the greatest attributes of our democracy. Established in 1947, the Voice of Democracy audio-essay program provides high school students with the unique opportunity to express themselves in a recorded essay on democratic and patriotic themes. Each year, nearly 25,000 students in grades nine through twelve enter to win their share of more than $1 million in educational scholarships and incentives awarded through the program.
The national first place winner receives a $35,000 scholarship paid directly to the recipient’s American university, college or vocational or technical school. A complete list of other national scholarships range from $1,000 to $21,000, and the first place winner from each VFW department at the state level wins at least a scholarship of $1,000.
VFW Post 6441 commended the young scholars for their patriotism and outstanding writing and oration skills. Details on both scholarship programs, and information on next year’s themes when they are available can be found at https:// www.vfw.org/community/ youth-and-education/ youth-scholarships.
