PATRIOT’S PEN
The Theme for 2025-2026 is
“How are you showing patriotism and support for our country?”
Each year, more than 60,600 students in sixth through eighth grades enter the VFW’s Patriot’s Pen® annual youth essay contest for a chance to win their share of nearly $1 million in state and national awards. Each first place state winner receives a minimum of $500 at the national level, and the national first place winner wins $5,000
Winning Post 7186 entrants will also compete for a $300 prize at the VFW Illinois District 4 level which includes other winning local entrants from 15 other VFW posts in the north and west suburbs.
Each year, Evanston VFW Post 7186 awards $100 to the first place and $50 to the second place local winners.
The essay contest encourages young minds to examine America’s history, along with their own experiences in modern American society, by drafting a 300- to 400-word essay, expressing their views based on a patriotic theme chosen by the VFW Commander-in-Chief.
The Patriot’s Pen program is open to students in grades 6-8 who are enrolled in a public, private or parochial school or home study program in the United States and its territories.
We have worked with middle school curriculum planners who have incorporated Patriot’s Pen theme writing into the school year.
We asked one of our supporters, a K-8 Humanities teacher, for feedback on the value of the program. She wrote:
“We were looking for competitions for our students, as there is a lot of evidence that students benefit from writing to a real audience and for an actual purpose …”
“It is an opportunity to have their writing read by someone other than their teachers. It is an opportunity to potentially be recognized or earn scholarship money. Finally, it is an opportunity to connect with our community.”
“I see it as an opportunity for my students academically and as critical thinkers.”
The 2025 - 2026 theme is: “How are you showing patriotism and support for our country?” Essays must be no shorter than 300 words and no longer than 400.
Deadline — The completed application and essay file, must be submitted by midnight Friday October 31, 2025.
Students will use the VFW Scholars App platform for this year’s entries. There they can establish an account, qualify, complete an application and submit essay files. All steps must be successfully completed by the deadline.
Students can begin the process by using the QR code or the bit.ly link below. We recommend that students establish an account qualify and complete the application well ahead of the deadline. Entries can then be submitted any time after those steps have been successfully completed … up to the deadline.
Patriot’s Pen QR Code
Help in preparing entries is available by contacting info@vfw7186.org. To make arrangements to submit paper applications write commander@vfw7186.org.
Roycemore School, Evanston January 6, 2023 - Patriot's Pen 2022 winners - : L-R Howard Stanley-Teacher, Jim Hughes-VFW, Joe Jefferson-VFW, Xavier Montgomery-1st, Caleb Krecker-3rd, Malina Zake-2nd, Amy Milner-Teacher & Sponsor, Jason Kruger-VFW