High School Students Invited to Apply for VFW Scholarships

Local high school students have the opportunity to compete for thousands of dollars in scholarships and a trip to Washington, D.C., through the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Department of Illinois and Ladies Auxiliary Voice of Democracy scholarship competition.

Students must write and record a three- to five-minute essay on this year's theme, “Is Our Constitution Still Relevant?” on an audio cassette tape or audio CD and present their recording, typed essay and entry form at their local VFW Post. Area VFW Posts include Wheeling and Northbrook.

Students begin by submitting entries by Nov. 1 to their local Post. Winners advance to a district competition which will determine which students will compete at the state level. All state winners will receive a four-day trip to Washington, D.C. 

The first-place national winner will receive $30,000. A total of $152,000 will be awarded to national finalists. 

About 50,000 students compete each year, and the VFW provides more than $2.3 million in scholarships.

Interested students and teachers should contact the nearest Veterans of Foreign Wars Post, or email vfwil@vfwil.org. Visit http://www.vfw.org/Community/Voice-of-Democracy/ for more information.

— Submitted by Veterans of Foreign Wars Department of Illinois