Naperville VFW offers scholarships in essay contest
The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3873 and its Ladies Auxiliary have some money to give out again this year, but they're going to make students work for it.
Sixth- through eighth-graders in the Naperville area are invited to submit a 300- to 400-word essay to the Patriot's Pen competition by Oct. 30 that responds to the theme, “Does patriotism still matter?
High school students have an even greater challenge in the Voices of Democracy contest: Produce and submit a 3- to 5-minute audio essay by Nov. 1 that answers the question “Does my generation have a role in America's future?
Mike Barbour, co-chairperson of the Patriot's Pen competition, said he likes when students add a special touch to their essays.
“There are kids that sit and think about it and make it personal, and that's what gets judges interested, he said. “Years ago, there was a young man who wrote about his granddad's bomber jacket. He always looked at it and remembered him, and he thought that he became a man the day he could wear that jacket.
Patriot's Pen prizes include first-, second- and third-place scholarships at the local post level of $500, $250 and $100. If a student's essay moves through the district and state levels to compete at the national level, he or she could win an additional $10,000 U.S. savings bond, along with other monetary prizes along the way.
Last year, Barbour said 640 kids turned in Patriot's Pen essays, and this year he's expecting more than 700 essays. Some teachers assign the essay as part of their class' daily assignments, which increases submission numbers, Voices of Democracy Chairman Tom Parker said.
The Voices of Democracy competition sees fewer submissions because the medium is more difficult, Parker said, noting that may not be such a bad thing.
“With Patriot's Pen, they're limited as to how many words they can get in the box, Parker said. “At least when they're able to get up and verbalize what their thoughts are, you pick up on voice inflection and can see passion and emotion in it as well.
With difficulty comes advantages including a four-day trip to Washington, D.C., for the state winner and a chance at winning the $30,000 first-place prize money. There are awards at the local post, district and state levels along the way as well.
For information, visit NaperVFW3873.org and click on “Youth Programs, or call (630) 527-0738 for the Patriot's Pen competition or (630) 280-9347 for the Voices of Democracy competition.