The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) is conducting its annual Teacher of the Year and student competitions.

Teacher of the Year

The VFW Teacher of the Year award recognizes three exceptional teachers for their outstanding commitment to teaching Americanism and patriotism to their students. Each year, a certified/licensed elementary, junior high and high school teacher whose curriculum focuses on citizenship education topics can be nominated for the Smart/Maher VFW National Citizenship Education Teacher Award. National winners receive:

• A $1,000 award for professional development expenses.

• A $1,000 award for their school.

• Two award plaques: one for the teacher, the other for their school.

• An all-expenses-paid trip to attend a VFW conference to receive their award. 

Belle/Bland teachers who win this award for each of their respective schools will receive $100 and a Teachers Award certificate from Belle’s local VFW O.W.L. Post 3410. Those entries will then be forwarded to the next level of competition for the State of Missouri.

PATRIOT’S PEN

Each year more than 138,000 students in grades 6-8 enter the VFW’s Patriot’s Pen youth essay contest for a chance to win their share of more than $900,000 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 and an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C. 

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 2020-21 theme is “What is Patriotism to Me.” 

VOICE OF DEMOCRACY

Established in 1947, the Voice of Democracy audio-essay program provides high school students with the unique opportunity to express themselves in regards to a democratic and patriotic-themed recorded essay. Each year, nearly 51,000 9-12 grade students from across the country enter to win their share of more than $1.9 million in educational scholarships and incentives awarded through the program. 

The national first place winner receives a $30,000 scholarship paid directly to the recipient’s American university, college or vocational/technical school. A complete list of other national scholarships range from $1,000-$16,000, and the first place winner from each VFW Department (state) wins a minimum scholarship of $1,000 and an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C.

 The 2020-21 theme is “Is This the Country the Founders Envisioned?”. 

Belle High School (BHS) and Bland Middle School  (BMS) student winners will receive a monetary award for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place, a Voice of Democracy/Patriots Pen certificate, and a medal from Belle’s VFW O.W.L. Post No. 3410 presented at each of the local Veterans Day Assemblies in November. Those entries will then be forwarded to the next level of competition for the State of Missouri.

For more information or forms, contact local VFW Post representative Diane James at 573-291-2842. Forms are also available in the BMS and BHS principal’s offices.