The Patriots Pen essay competition is open to students in 6th through 8th grades who are enrolled in public, private, or parochial schools, or home study programs in the United States and its territories. The national first place prize scholarship totaling $5,000 and the first-place winner from each VFW Department (State) being awarded a scholarship of at least $500.  

The 2024-25 Patriots Pen scholarship competition theme is:

"My Voice in America's Democracy?”

Before submitting your essay, download the 2024-2025 entry form here and find your sponsoring local VFW Post here.

This year, all submissions will have to be submitted via our new scholarship management program, Scholar’s App. This is an online platform that is intended to not only streamline the application submission and judging processes for the competition, but it will also expose the students to a wide range of scholarship opportunities once they create an account on the system. Please go to our ScholarsApp page for more information.

Applications/Essays are due to your local VFW Post by 31 October!

JUDGING CRITERIA:

Knowledge of the theme - 30 points: You must show a thorough knowledge of the theme in your work. Demonstrate you have researched the issue extensively.

Theme development - 35 points: Answer all relevant facts about the theme such as the who, what, where, when, and why. Relate the theme to your own experiences.

Clarity of ideas - 35 points: Write your essay in an easy-to-understand format. Leave your reader with a clear understanding of your explanation of the theme.