Programs Scholarships Patriot's Pen
Patriot's Pen
Patriot’s Pen is a VFW sponsored youth essay competition that gives students an opportunity to write essays expressing their views on democracy with the prospect of winning U.S. savings bonds. Students compete at Post, District, State and National levels. The top 35 National winners all receive at least a $1,000 savings bond. The first-place award is currently a $10,000 savings bond plus an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C. for the winner and a parent or guardian.
Who can enter? The competition is open to students in grades 6-8, who are enrolled in public, private or parochial schools in the U.S., its territories or its possessions. Home-schooled students also are eligible. Dependents of U.S. military or civilian personnel in overseas schools can participate too. (Foreign exchange students and former winners that placed in the National finals are excluded from the contest.)
What do students need to do to enter? Students submit a 300 – 400 word original essay on the theme listed below. The essay should be typewritten in English with no color or graphics and cannot be less than 300 words or greater than 400 words in length. Every word is counted regardless of length. The essay title (theme) or added footnotes do not contribute to the word count. In no way may contestants identify themselves in their essay nor should their names be written on the front of the essay. Essays must be written exclusively for this competition and must be the contestant’s original work and a product of the contestant’s own thinking. The approach to the theme should be positive and clearly focused. Poetry is not acceptable. Quotations may be used sparingly if plainly identified wherever used. Parents, teachers or counselors may check the essay for punctuation, grammar, and/or spelling, but the content must remain the contestant’s.
The theme for the 2012- 2013 competition is "What I would tell America's Founding Fathers"
What is the entry deadline? All entries must be in the hands of the VFW Post 3917 by midnight, November 1st 2012.
We are located at:
4715 Clearview Drive
Colorado Springs, CO 80911
Our mailing address is:
Cheyenne Mountain VFW Post 3917
P.O. Box 5355
Colorado Springs, CO 80931
 2011 - 12 Patriot's Pen Entry Form | [2011 - 12 Patriot's Pen Entry Form] | 503 Kb |
