STATE of MICHIGAN VFW 2025-2026 Voice of Democracy Program

Sep 22, 2026

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The STATE of MICHIGAN VFW 2025-2026 Voice of Democracy program invites Michigan ninth through twelfth grade students to submit a patriotic-themed recorded audio essay for scholarship and incentive awards. One student from each of the VFW’s 12 Michigan districts competes at the state level, then state winners advance to national judging. The document outlines the annual theme, required procedures, district responsibilities, judging expectations, eligibility limits, recording rules, and participation guidance for Posts and their VFW Auxiliary counterparts.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryForms

FormatPDF

Pages3

Reading Time1 min

AccessFree to download

STATE of MICHIGAN VFW2025-2026VOICE of DEMOCRACY PROGRAM

Judging the Contest

Eligibility

Recording

Posts

# STATE of MICHIGAN VFW2025-2026VOICE of DEMOCRACY PROGRAM The VFW Voice of Democracy audio-essay program provides high school students with theunique opportunity to express themselves in regard to a patriotic-themed recorded essay.Eachyear,nearly 25,000 ninth through twelfth grade students from across the country enter to win theirshare of more than a million dollars in educational scholarships and incentives awarded throughthe program. In Michigan,one student from each of the VFW's 12 districts will compete on the state level,eachwinning a minimum scholarship of $1000.The state winner will go on to compete at the nationallevel judging of the winners from each of the 53 VFW Departments.The national first placewinner will receive a $35,000 scholarship paid directly to the recipient's American university,college,or vocational/technical school. # 2025-2026 Voice of Democracy Theme"How Are You Showing Patriotism and Support For Our Country?’ All information pertaining to the theme,judging,eligibility,awards,and other aspects of thisprogram are contained in the Veterans of Foreign Wars program booklet for the Annual Voice ofDemocracy Scholarship Program.District Commanders are responsible to ensure that theirDistrict Chairman are conducting their programs within these rules and deadlines.DistrictCommanders are solely responsible for the conduct of the programs within their Districts.Make sure that copies of this program are distributed to all the Posts within your District insufficient time to ensure that there is a successful competition. The Voice of Democracy program is a joint program with the VFW Auxiliary to the Veterans ofForeign Wars of Michigan.The Auxiliary does not need the permission of a Post to participate inthe program.Post and District Chairman are expected to include their VFW AuxiliaryCounterparts in all activities concerning the conduct of the local and District programs.Coordination of the District program is the responsibility of the District Commanders and DistrictChairman.Post Chairman must refer to their District program for the program requirements anddeadlines. ## Judging the Contest The suggested number of judges is five to nine,with a minimum of three.Judges should be fromoutside your Posts and Auxiliaries and should represent your community.Judges must not in anyway be connected to the students in the competition.Set the date for your judging and invite thejudges at least 60 days in advance.Remind them a week before the competition with a letter oremail,and two days before with a phone call. ## Eligibility Ninth,Tenth,Eleventh and Twelfth Grade students in public,private,parochial,and home schoolsin the State of Michigan.Former first place winners at the State and National level of competitionor any Foreign Exchange students are not eligible.Students do not have to be relatives of amember of the Veterans of Foreign Wars or its VFW Auxiliary to participate. ## Recording Recorded Essays must not be less than three minutes and not longer than five minutes.A fivesecond variation is acceptable to compensate for the possible deviation in equipment.Essays mustbe recorded on full size standard flash drive only.Essays must be recorded without music orbackground voices.Students must not use their names,the name or location of the sponsoringVFW Post,or the name or location of their school.Recordings must not include any introductionto the essay.The only voice on the recording must be that of the students.Special considerationmay be given for students that are speech challenged upon written request through the District tothe Department Director.Scripts should be recorded using the best possible equipment available.Post and District Chairman are responsible for the content and quality of the entry.Every effortshould be made to submit the best quality entry possible.Please note:Cassette tapes and CDsare no longer accepted by the Department or National.Make certain your recording hasabsolutely no bac

FAQs

Who can participate in the Michigan Voice of Democracy program?

Ninth, Tenth, Eleventh, and Twelfth Grade students in public, private, parochial, and home schools in Michigan can participate. Former first place winners at the State and National level and foreign exchange students are not eligible.

What are the recording requirements for the recorded essay?

Recorded Essays must be between three and five minutes, with a five-second acceptable variation. Record using a full size standard flash drive only, with no music or background voices, and without including the student’s name or the sponsoring Post or school details. Cassette tapes and CDs are not accepted.

How are entries judged and what are judge guidelines?

The suggested number of judges is five to nine, with a minimum of three. Judges should be from outside the Posts and Auxiliaries and represent the community, and they must not be connected to the students in the competition.

Sep 22, 2026

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