The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) has officially announced the national winners for its 2025-2026 Voice of Democracy and Patriot’s Pen scholarship competitions. The announcement, made in 2026, recognized outstanding young essayists from across the United States, with Drewniak of Morse High School in Bath, Maine, claiming first place in the Voice of Democracy contest, and Andrew Ge from Danville, California, earning the top spot in the Patriot’s Pen competition.
The VFW awarded over $176,000 in national scholarships during a ceremony held in Philadelphia. These national awards are part of a larger initiative that saw more than $1.6 million distributed in total across all competition levels, including local and department prizes, with all department winners receiving a minimum of $1,000.
In the esteemed Voice of Democracy scholarship competition, Drewniak, representing VFW Post 7738, secured the first-place national honor. Following closely, Kylie Saltzman of Lower Cape May Regional High School in Cape May, New Jersey, supported by VFW Post 386, was awarded second place, receiving the $21,000 Charles Kuralt Memorial scholarship. The third-place national prize went to Abigail Smith, a homeschool student from Bloomington, Indiana, representing VFW Post 604.
For the Patriot’s Pen competition, Andrew Ge, affiliated with VFW Post 75, was named the first-place national winner, earning a $5,000 scholarship. Michael Sieniawski, representing VFW Post 1337 in Mount Prospect, Illinois, achieved second place, receiving a $4,000 scholarship. Brandon Darnell, from VFW Post 5738 in Clare, Michigan, secured the third-place position with a $3,500 scholarship.
Participants in both competitions crafted and delivered essays based on the theme, "How Are You Showing Patriotism and Support for Our Country?" The annual scholarship programs underscore the VFW’s commitment to fostering patriotism, civic engagement, and educational advancement among the nation's youth, providing substantial financial support for their academic pursuits while encouraging a deeper reflection on national values.