Post 549
SCholarships

Each year more than 160,000 students in grades 6-12 apply for VFW scholarships,
winning more than $2 million to further their educations. This doesn’t even
include the money available to adults for continuing education.

Scroll down to find YOUR opportunity to shine!

Voice of democracy | patriot’s pen | Patriotic art | continuing education | merit | Education grant | Sportclips scholarship

Are you looking for ways to recognize a great community member? Click here!

Voice of Democracy

by VFW

WHO: Students in grades 9-12, enrolled in public, private, parochial, or home study programs in the U.S. and its territories.

THEME: “Is This the Country the Founders Envisioned?”

WHAT ELSE? This year’s contest requires an “audio essay” submission. The audio portion is to be 3-5 minutes in length, and submitted via CD or flash drive.

WHAT DO I WIN? Grand prize of $30,000 college scholarship, with $154,000 in prizes and scholarships divided up for award at varying levels from Post to District to State. 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.

DEADLINE: Midnight on October 30, 2020

HOW TO SUMBMIT:

1. Download your application here (fill it out digitally or legibly by hand)

2. Submit the application and written essay to vfwpost549@gmail.com

3. For the recorded audio portion:

   • Bring or mail a copy of your essay and your CD or flash drive to 8424 E. Old Spanish Trail, Tucson, AZ 85710

   • Email a digital .mp3 file to vfwpost549@gmail.com

   • Or upload your file to a service such as Dropbox or iCloud, and share your file with us via a download link

MORE INFO: Click here for a full description, rules, and eligibility.

Patriot’s Pen

by VFW

WHO: Students in grades 6-8, enrolled in public, private, parochial, or home study programs in the U.S. and its territories.

THEME: “What is Patriotism to Me?”

WHAT DO I WIN? Grand prize of $5,000 plus all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C. Other national-level prizes for 2nd through 53rd places can be found on the application form. A minimum of $500 goes to the winner at each Department (state) level.

DEADLINE: Midnight on October 31, 2020.

HOW TO SUBMIT:

1. Download your application here (fill it out digitally or legibly by hand)

2. Submit the application and essay to vfwpost549@gmail.com

3. Then bring a copy of your essay to 8424 E. Old Spanish Trail, Tucson, AZ 85710

MORE INFO: Click here for a full description, rules, and eligibility.

Young American Creative
Patriotic Art Contest

by VFW Auxiliary

WHO:

• Students in grades 9-12, enrolled in public, private, parochial, or home study programs in the U.S. and its territories.

• Maximum age of 18 at the time of entry with Post 549

• Must be a U.S. citizen or U.S. national

• Applicants do not need to be affiliated with the VFW or VFW Auxiliary, but must attend school in Arizona

THEME: Patriotic artwork.

ART REQUIREMENTS:

• If entries use the American Flag for any reason, it must adhere to the U.S. Flag Code (4 U.S. Code § 8)

• Digital art, photography, and jewelry are not accepted

• Two-dimensional submissions:

  • On canvas or paper

  • Watercolor, pencil, pastel, charcoal, tempera, crayon, acrylic, pen, ink, oil, marker, or other media may be used

  • Do not frame

  • Submit canvas entries on a stretcher frame or canvas board

  • Other entries must be matted in white (do not use color mats)

  • Reinforce the back with heavy paper

  • Mounted and floating mats may also be used

  • Size should be no smaller than 8”x10”, but no largers than 18”x24” (not including the mat)

• Three-dimensional submissions:

  • No larger than 18” in any direction

  • Cannot weigh more than 5 pounds

WHAT DO I WIN? First-place winners from each state will compete for national awards totaling $31,000.

DEADLINE: 2020’s contest is over; check back soon for the next one!

HOW TO SUBMIT:

• Download the entry form here. Fill it out digitally or legibly by hand.

• Provide a typed explanation (250 words or less) of patriotism as expressed in your art.

• Bring your piece to Post 549 at 8424 E. Old Spanish Trail, Tucson, AZ 85710

MORE INFO:

• The full rules and instructions can be downloaded here.

• VFW Post 549 Auxiliary will accept all entries and select one (1) winner to proceed on to the Department level.

• Post 549 judging will take place on 10 April 2023

• District judging will take place on 15 April 2023

• Winners will be submitted to the National Headquarters on 5 May 2023

• Past winning submissions can be seen at the bottom of the VFW Auxiliary website here.

 Continuing Education
Scholarship

by VFW Auxiliary

WHO: Open to members, their spouses, or their sons/daughters, 18 years or older. Must be in good standing with the post. (Qualifiying members have been a member for at least one (1) year by the application submission deadline.)

THEME: A brief essay (300 words or less) describing your commitment to your goals and how this scholarship will help attain those goals.

WHAT DO I WIN? $1,000 scholarship awarded to one applicant in each of the four (4) Auxiliary Conferences.

DEADLINE: All submissions must be turned in to VFW Post 549’s Auxiliary by January 31, 2021.

HOW TO SUBMIT:

1. Download your application here. Fill it out digitally or legibly by hand.

2. Provide other data requested in the application on a separate sheet of paper.

3. Bring or mail your application and essay to 8424 E. Old Spanish Trail, Tucson, AZ 85710.

4. Alternately, email your application to vfwpost549@gmail.com to get the process started.

5. Once the VFW Post 549 Auxiliary has received all entries, they will be submitted to the Auxiliary’s national headquarters by February 15th.

MORE INFO: Additional information can be found in the application itself. Scholarship winners will be notified on 1 May 2021.

Arizona VFW Auxiliary
Merit Scholarship

by VFW Auxiliary

WHO:

• Graduating high school senior in the class of 2020

• Must be a relative of any VFW of Auxiliary member in good standing

• The VFW or Auxiliary family member does not need to be a memer of an Arizona post

• Applicant must be an Arizona resident

WHAT DO I WIN? $1,000 for 1st place.

DEADLINE: Submissions for 2020 are closed; stayed tuned for the next round of scholarships!

HOW TO APPLY: Submit the following to VFW Post 549 in a binder for consideration:

• Transcripts from grades 9, 10, 11, and current

• List of extracurricular activities, with documentation (letters, awards, etc.) to support participation

• Valid extracurricular activities will vary but may include clubs, sports, band, JROTC, Civil Air Patrol, etc.

• Description of church and/or community activities

• Description of employment, if applicable

• Copy of entrance application for at least one college or vocational school

• Letter(s) of recommendation from teachers, principals, JROTC instructors, etc.

• An essay, as described below

• The full sheet of rules can be downloaded here.

THEME: You’ll write an essay about:

• Tell the the judges about yourself

• Goals and aspirations in life

• Why you believe you deserve this scholarship

• Describe your relationship to the VFW or Auxiliary family member

• Describe how the VFW or Auxiliary and/or that family member have had a positive impact on your life

HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION:

1. Download the application here.

2. Fill it out either digitally or legibly by hand.

3. Submit all of the above in a binder, with the application as the first page, to Post 549 at 8424 E. Old Spanish Trail, Tucson, AZ 85710.

Arizona VFW Auxiliary
Educational Endowment Grant

by VFW Auxiliary

WHO: A member of an Arizona VFW Auxiliary over the age of 18.

WHAT DO I WIN? $1,000 furthering-education scholarship to assist members who wish to further their education by pursing a college degree or a career direction at a vocational/technical school.

DEADLINE: Submissions for 2020 are closed; stayed tuned for the next round of scholarships!

HOW TO APPLY:

• Download the application here

• Submit the following:

  • The name of the school which you plan on applying

  • Have you already been accepted?

  • Intended or ongoing course of study or major

  • Write an essay (300 words or less) describing your commitment to goals and how this scholarship will help you attain them.

  • Describe how the VFW Auxiliary has had an influence on your life.

• Bring or mail the application, essay, and other information to Post 549 at 8424 E. Old Spanish Trail, Tucson, AZ 85710

• Alternately, email the information to vfwpost549@gmail.com

MORE INFO: More information can be found within the application. Contact Post 549 at (520) 790-4626 for additional questions.

 SportClips Help a Hero
Scholarship

by SportClips

WHO: Retired or honorably discharged veteran; active duty; or a member of the National Guard or Reserve.

OTHER ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

• Be a citizen of the United States

• Have completed Basic Training and follow-on training (Advanced Individual Training, technical school, etc.)

• Separated with, or currently holding, a military rank of E-5 or below

• Demonstrated need for financial assistance

• Participant in, accepted to, or currently enrolled in a VA-approved program or school at an accredited post-secondary institution

WHAT DO I WIN? Scholarships up to $5,000.

DEADLINE:

• Application available Jan 1st - Apr 30th for fall semester

• Application available Aug 1st - Nov 15th for spring semester

HOW TO APPLY:

• Visit this website

• From there, create and account/login and submit in accordance with instructions therein

MORE INFO: If selected, winners authorize the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and Sport Clips, Inc. to announce and publish award of the scholarship. If awarded a scholarship, the recipient’s name, city, state, photograph and essay may be used for promotional purposes by the VFW and Sport Clips, Inc. without further consent from the recipient. A bit more info can be found here as well: https://www.vfw.org/assistance/student-veterans-support.