SIMPLIFIED VOD/PP

Simplified summary of the page

What this page is about:
VFW Post 11453 in Cheyenne runs two national VFW youth contests every year:

  • Patriot’s Pen – for students in grades 6–8 (written essay)
  • Voice of Democracy – for students in grades 9–12 (written essay + recorded speech)

Both are open to all eligible students—you don’t need a VFW family member to enter, and judges don’t see names until after judging.

General notes

  • Location: Cheyenne-area students can submit through any Cheyenne VFW Post (1881, 4343, or 11453).
  • One entry per year per contest.
  • You can enter again next year if you still meet the grade requirement.
  • Prizes: Cash and scholarships.
  • AI is not allowed for entries as of 2024.

Patriot’s Pen (grades 6–8)

  • What it is: Written essay contest.
  • Info & forms: Available on the National VFW Youth Scholarships webpage.
  • Deadline: October 31, 2025.
  • Do not put your name in the essay itself.
  • File naming:
    • Essay: LastFirstEssay.pdf
    • Entry form: LastFirstEntry.pdf
  • File type: Prefer PDF for written documents.
  • How to submit:
    • Download and fill out the entry form.
    • Upload entry form + essay to the Patriot’s Pen Dropbox on the page.
    • If the electronic signature doesn’t work, submit the form as complete as you can.
    • If you can’t upload:
      • You may turn in printed documents in person until 4 PM on October 31 (call 307-509-0839 to arrange).

Voice of Democracy (grades 9–12)

  • What it is: Written speech + audio recording contest.
  • Info & forms: Available on the National VFW Youth Scholarships webpage.
  • Deadline: October 31, 2025.
  • Audio file:
    • Use a standard audio format: mp3, wav, m4a, wma, acc, etc.
    • No video files.
  • Do not say your name in the speech.
  • File naming:
    • Written speech: LastFirstSpeech.pdf
    • Entry form: LastFirstEntry.pdf
    • Audio file: LastFirstSpeech.mp3 (or similar extension)
  • File type for written docs: Prefer PDF.
  • How to submit:
    • Download and fill out the entry form.
    • Upload entry form + written speech + audio file to the Voice of Democracy Dropbox on the page.
    • If the electronic signature doesn’t work, submit the form as complete as you can.
    • If you can’t upload:
      • You may submit an audio CD or USB drive plus printed documents in person until 4 PM on October 31 (call 307-509-0839 to arrange).