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VFW 2024 National Youth Scholarship Winners Named

Arizona high school junior takes home first place $35,000 scholarship.

WASHINGTON – Tonight the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) proudly presented more than $173,000 in scholarships and awards as it named the national winners of its 2023-2024 Voice of Democracy and Patriot’s Pen youth scholarship competitions.

This year’s national winners were announced at the 2024 VFW Washington Conference in Washington, D.C., during the 77th annual Parade of Winners ceremony, sponsored by Twisted X .

VFW National Commander Duane Sarmiento was joined by VFW Auxiliary President Carla Martinez to announce this year’s national Voice of Democracy first place winner, Sophia Lin, and present her with the top $35,000 T.C. Selman Memorial Scholarship first place prize. Lin, a high school junior at BASIS Scottsdale in Scottsdale, Arizona, was sponsored by Scottsdale VFW Post 3513. She delivered her winning essay  on this year’s theme, “What Are the Greatest Attributes of Our Democracy?” during this evening’s ceremony.

Also featured during tonight’s awards ceremony was the 2024 Patriot’s Pen first place winner, Bryant Day. Sponsored by VFW Post 9943 and its Auxiliary located in Mansfield, Ohio, Day was awarded the top Patriot’s Pen award of $5,000. Watch as he delivered his winning essay  during this evening's ceremony on this year’s theme, “How Are You Inspired by America?”

The Patriot’s Pen second place winner, Peeradon Bauman, sponsored by VFW Post 12146 located in Ban Chang, Rayong Province, Thailand, will receive a $4,000 award, while third place winner Anisha Hiremath, sponsored by VFW Post 12104 in Bastrop, Texas, will receive a $3,500 award. See the complete list of 2024 Patriot’s Pen national winners .

Learn more about the VFW Voice of Democracy and Patriot’s Pen programs here .

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