Our Daily Show Interview! Post 1308: Upcoming Events, Scholarships, and More!
ALTON - The Alton VFW Post 1308 encourages students to participate in a variety of essay and art scholarship contests, with a grand prize of up to $35,000 possible.
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The students who win these contests locally will go on to compete at the state and national levels. Becky Willmore with Post 1308 noted that there are major prizes available. But most importantly, these contests encourage students to think about patriotism, the country’s values, and veterans’ sacrifices.
Willmore explained that the Voice of Democracy contest invites high school students to complete an oral essay by Oct. 31, 2026. The Alton VFW Post 1308 will take entries and decide which student to elevate to the next level. The national winner will receive a $35,000 scholarship, while other winners will take home various prizes ranging up to $21,000.
Similarly, the Patriot’s Pen essay contest is aimed toward middle school students and must be completed by Oct. 31. The national winner receives $5,000.
For both contests, the VFW Commander-in-Chief has chosen the theme “What a Veteran Taught Me About America.” Interested students can reach out to Post 1308 for more information about entering, or click here for general guidelines.
There are also two-dimensional and three-dimensional art contests available to students in kindergarten through high school. The deadline for these art contests is March 31, 2027.
“Some of these patriotic arts are just awesome when you see them,” Willmore said. “You go to the national and you see all 50 winners. There’s a winner from every state.”
Willmore expressed her hope that Post 1308 receives several entries from local students this year. She believes these art and essay contests are great opportunities for students to win big, but also powerful chances for young people to reflect.
For more information about the upcoming essay and art contests, including how to submit your work, visit the official VFW website or contact the Alton VFW Post 1308 at 618-466-6883.
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