VFW and auxiliary sponsor competitions
Scholarships and awards are available to students entering the contests.
YOUNGSTOWN -- District 8 Veterans of Foreign Wars and its Auxiliary are sponsoring the national Voice of Democracy audio/essay script-writing competition and a Patriot's Pen youth essay-writing contest, and the auxiliary is conducting a Patriotic Creative Arts contest.
This year the Voice of Democracy competition is based on the theme "Freedom's Challenge" and will give students in grades 9 through 12, including those homeschooled, an opportunity to win scholarships and awards by expressing their opinions in creative writing and verbally.
The first place winner will receive a $6,000 scholarship from the Department of Ohio and a five-day, expense-paid trip to Washington to compete for national scholarships. Each district winner will receive at least a $1,000 scholarship.
Citizenship event
The Patriot's Pen competition is for all students in grades 6 through 8 or those homeschooled who wish to write essays on the theme "Citizenship in America," expressing their views on democracy. The entry deadline is Nov. 1. The first place national winner will receive a $10,000 savings bond and an all-expense paid trip to Washington. The top 31 national winners receive from $1,000 to $10,000 in savings bonds.
All students, except foreign exchange students, in grades 9 through 12 or homeschooled are eligible to compete in the auxiliary's Patriotic Creative Arts contest. Those entering the contest will have the opportunity to express their views on patriotism through art.
Make inquiries
For more information about the contests, interested students should contact their local VFW post or auxiliary. District 8 is composed of the counties of Mahoning, Portage, Summit and Trumbull.