Patriot's Pen Contest
Theme for 2012 - 2013:
"What I Would Tell America’s Founding Fathers"
Patriot’s Pen gives 6th, 7th and 8th grade students the opportunity to express their opinion on a patriotic theme and improve their writing skills, while they compete for awards and prizes. Cumulatively, the awards provided from all levels of the competition approaches $1.2 million each year. Department (state) winners compete for $92,000 in U.S. Savings Bonds at the national level with the first place winner receiving a $10,000 U.S. Savings Bond in Washington, D.C., in March each year.
Students must be in the 7th and 8th grade and properly enrolled in
a public, private, parochial 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
person(s). (Foreign exchange students are excluded.)
The first place National Youth Patriot's Pen winner will receive a $10,000
United States Savings Bond and a trip to Washington, D.C.
Additional U.S.
Savings Bonds totaling $35,000 will be awarded at the National level of competition.
Post Competition
Post entries are required to include the following:
Typed essay in English of 300-400 words (no graphics) and a student entry form completed legibly. All words must be counted.
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)
Judging Criteria
Patriots Pen contestants are judged on the following criteria:
Theme knowledge (possible 30 pts.) Has the student researched and understood the theme?
Theme development (possible 35 pts.) Does the essay answer relevant questions: who, what, where and why.
Clarity of ideas (possible 35 pts.). Is the writer’s interpretation of the theme presented clearly?
Deadlines
The deadlines for The Patriots Pen 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_____
Letter from the Department Chair Persons Tony Wolusky of the VFW and Gloria Otwell of the Ladies Auxiliary
Eligible 6-8 grade schools
Patriot's Pen Contest Entry Form
Voice of Democracy and Patriots Pen Score Sheets
District Patriots Pen Report Form
District Patriots Pen Summary Report Form
Voice of Democracy and Patriots Pen District Report Instructions
VFW SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS CHAIRMAN’S MANUAL
Link to the National VFW Patriots Pen Program Site