CONTESTS District Eight VFW, auxiliary to participate in annual Voice of Democracry event

Essay contests and research fellowships are planned.
AKRON -- District Eight Veterans of Foreign Wars and its Auxiliary will participate in the 58th annual Voice of Democracy program this year.
High school students in grades 9 through 12 are eligible, and scholarships are available at the local, district, state and national levels. The format requires contestants to write and record a 3- to 5-minute essay on an audiocassette based on this year's theme, "Celebrating Our Veterans' Service."
Entry deadline is Nov. 1, and more information may be obtained by contacting a local VFW post or auxiliary, or by calling Anna McGrath at (330) 369-2945.
The program is the organizations' premier youth scholarship program and began as an audio-essay contest in 1946 when it was sponsored by the National Association of Broadcasters and the VFW. In 1960 the NAB ended its sponsorship of the event, and the VFW and its auxiliary became the sole sponsors.
District Eight is also sponsoring a "Patriot's Pen" youth essay contest for students in grades 7 and 8. That competition was started in 1991, and winners are awarded U.S. Savings Bonds. The theme for this year is "What Service to Our Country Means to Me." Deadline is also Nov. 1, and additional information may be obtained by contacting a VFW post or auxiliary, or by calling Marjorie Watson at (330) 325-9890.
Research fellowships
The VFW auxiliary is offering two one-year postdoctoral research fellowships of $50,000 each for cancer research. Universities, hospitals and other institutions are invited to nominate one or more researchers who meet the following criteria:
UMust be a United States citizen. (Nominator does not have to be.)
UMust be nominated by the person who will be supervising the lab in which the researcher will be working.
UMust be qualified in a specific cancer-related specialty, and proposed research project must be cancer-related.
UCandidate must have earned a doctoral-level degree by the time the fellowship is activated July 1, 2005. If candidate does not have that degree at the time of application, please indicate the date expected on application form. (Must be prior to July 1.)
UProposed research must be the principal professional responsibility of the recipient during the stated period of the fellowship.
The total application, which must include the items listed below, should not exceed 20 pages and should not be printed in type smaller than 11 point font size. The application must be postmarked by March 1, 2005, and include the following:
UCompleted 2005 official application form.
UNIH biological sketch on candidate detailing training, experience, honors and list of candidate's published research.
UBrief description of proposed research project including abstract, methods, procedures and significance.
ULetter of recommendation from sponsor.
UNIH biographical sketch on sponsor.
UBrief description of lab funding.
Applications will be reviewed by a panel of basic and clinical researchers in the oncology field. Entries will be judged between April 1 and May 15, 2005. The winner will be notified by June 1, 2005. Upon receipt of acceptance, funds will be distributed quarterly beginning July 1.
Fellowship funds are to be used as a salary by the researcher. If the institution's normal postdoctoral salary is greater than $50,000, it is acceptable for the institution to supplement the salary. If the funds received are below the normal salary, the remainder may be used for lab equipment or supplies. Researcher cannot receive other salary funding except as described during the term of the fellowship. Fellowships are not renewable. A brief report of the results of the research must be sent to the auxiliary by Sept. 1, 2006.
Application forms may be obtained from: Cancer Research Fellowship Program, National Headquarters Ladies Auxiliary VFW, 406 W. 34th St., 10th Floor, Kansas City, Mo. 64111, or by calling (816) 561-8655 or fax to (816) 931-4753.