Scholarships: Inspiring Patriotism, Determination and Imagination In Our Students!

Inspiring Patriotism, Determination and Imagination In Our Students!

It’s time to start promoting the Voice of Democracy and Patriot’s Pen scholarship contests. The theme for both of this year’s contests is “What Makes America Great.” Before you start promoting the contests in your community, be sure to meet with your Post counterpart and prepare an action plan to promote the contest and increase student participation. Below are some tips to ensure a successful contest at the local level:

Getting the Word Out to Increase Student Participation:

• Utilize social media! Post information about the contests on your social media pages.
• Update your Post and Auxiliary websites with the current information on the contests.
• Print and distribute flyers with contest deadlines and contact information.
  • Place flyers anywhere students spend time: the library, fast food restaurants, malls, grocery stores, convenience stores, gas stations, and hair salons are just a few of the places young people meet.
• Reach out to your local schools and home school groups and ask permission to publicize the contests on their websites.
• Request a meeting with a school guidance counsellor or career counsellor to advocate for participation in the contests.
• Attend school board meetings and ask permission to present information on the contests.
• Contact your local cable channel and ask about producing a Public Service Announcement to recruit participation.
• Provide the information to neighborhood associations or senior citizen clubs and ask that they encourage their children or grandchildren to enter.

Students are searching for opportunities to supplement their funds for college. The sky is the limit on the countless ways students can learn about these contests. Think outside the box and let me know how you are getting the word out!

When promoting the contest, remember:

• To include the contest requirements, deadlines and contact information.
• To dress professionally; you are the face of the Post and Auxiliary in the public eye.
• To answer any questions that may arise. If an immediate response is not available, be sure to follow up with the proper answer as soon as possible.

Judging the Contest:

• Reach out to your community to participate in the judging. Include anyone qualified to fulfill the task of judging the essays.
• Look to civic leaders, local legislators, retired teachers, school personnel, clergymen, and local media personalities.
• Provide the contest rules to the judges.
• It is advisable to secure an odd number of judges to avoid any ties.
• Whenever possible, avoid using your own members as judges. This eliminates any conflicts of interest.

Please let me know how you plan to increase student participation this year and how you recruit your judges. We can all learn from each other! Share your ideas with your Post counterpart and ask what you can do to ensure the success of the contests at the local level. Our students and communities can learn how we are “Serving Our Veterans with Aloha!”