The Voice of Democracy competition provides high school freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors the opportunity to write and record a broadcast script on a patriotic theme, competing for more than $2.1 million in college scholarships and incentives. Department (state) winners are brought to Washington, D.C., in March to enjoy our nation’s capital and compete for $149,000 in scholarships — first place receiving a $30,000 scholarship.

Students must be in 9th, 10th, 11th or 12th grade and properly enrolled in a public, private, parochial high school or a home study program in the United States, its territories and possessions or enrolled in an overseas school as a dependent of U.S. military or U.S. civilian personnel. (Foreign Exchange students are excluded.) All eligible students will be judged on their interpretation of the contest theme. A positive approach should be used to express the entrant's viewpoint.

Post Competition
Post entries are required to include the following:
Typed script, a standard cassette tape or CD of the recorded script (3-5 minutes), and a student entry form completed legibly.

Number of Entries Allowed:

From the School/Youth Group to the VFW Post
1-15 essays – One (1) entry to Post
16-30 essays – Two (2) entries
31-45 essays – Three (3) entries

From the VFW Post to the District
1-15 essays – One (1) entry to District
16-30 essays – Two (2) entries
31-45 essays – Three (3) entries

From the District to the Department
One (1) entry per District (with student photo)

Each Department's first place winner receives an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C. Four fun-filled days of tours, visits to monuments, meeting with heads of state and often the President or Vice President of the United States. The National Judging is held in Washington, D.C. prior to the students' arrival and the winners are announced at a special reception in their honor. In June, each Department winner is invited to the Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge Freedom and Leadership Youth Conference. The three-day conference allows participating students the opportunity to converse with experts on current issues of citizenship, tour the Philadelphia and Valley Forge historic sites and participate in seminars designed to develop leadership skills and understand the value of community service. The foundations of American democracy and the elements of the free enterprise system will also be explored through thought provoking lectures and workshops.

All Department scholarships are paid directly to the American university, American college or vocational technical school as selected by the recipient. Disbursement is made directly to the college/school upon receipt of proper notice from the college certifying that the recipient has been accepted and is enrolled. All scholarship moneys are held in a restricted fund at Department Headquarters for ten years and disbursed as needed until the scholarship is totally withdrawn.

All National scholarships are paid directly to the American university, American college or vocational technical school as selected by the recipient. Disbursement is made directly to the college/school upon receipt of proper notice from the college certifying that the recipient has been accepted and is enrolled. All scholarship moneys are held in escrow at National Headquarters for ten years and disbursed as needed until the scholarship is totally withdrawn. This time may be extended to cover all years of study as the student deems necessary. The funds may be used for tuition, books, computers, laboratory fees and/or other items relating specifically to the student's formal education. (Clothing, room and board and pocket money are not considered authorized expenditures.) All questions should be referred to National Headquarters for review. Numerous opportunities also exist to win valuable scholarships and awards at each level of the competition. Most VFW Posts/Auxiliaries offer additional monetary awards to participants who place in their local school competition.

Judging Criteria
Voice of Democracy contestants are judged on the following criteria:
Originality (possible 30 pts.) Treatment of the theme should show imagination and human interest.
Content (possible 35 pts.) Ideas are expressed clearly and in an organized manner.
Delivery (possible 35 pts Speaking voice is clear and credible.

Deadlines
The deadlines for The Voice of Democracy Program are as follows:
1.... Midnight, November 1, Entries to the Post*
2.... November 15, Completion of Post judging**
3.... December 6, Completion of District judging**
4.... January 7, Completion of Department judging**
5.... January 15, District participation reports to Department Chairmen**
6.... January 15, Department winners to National*
7.... January 31, Department reports to National*

_____*required deadlines_____**suggested deadlines_____