The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2468 is seeking entries from Douglas County students for an essay competition with a $5,000 top prize and a video competition for scholarships.

The Patriot’s Pen Essay Competition is open to students in grades 6-8. To enter, students must write a 300- to 400-word essay on a patriotic theme. This year’s theme is “What I would tell America’s founding fathers.”

Students who do well in the essay competition at the post level will advance to the district and state levels and have the chance to win cash prizes and a trip to Washington, D.C. Each year, more than 120,000 students participate in the competition.

The Voice of Democracy Scholarship Competition is open to students in grades 9-12. Students compete by writing and recording a broadcast script on a patriotic theme. This year’s theme is “Is our Constitution still relevant?”

Each year, more then 100,000 high school students compete for about $2.5 million in scholarships and incentives. Prizes and scholarships are awarded at the local, district and state level. Along with scholarships, state winners receive a five-day all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C., to tour the city, meet politicians and be honored by the VFW and its Ladies Auxiliary. The top scholarship award is $30,000.

The deadline for entries in the Patriot’s Pen and Voice of Democracy contests is Nov. 1.

Douglas County students interested in entering either competition should contact VFW Post 2468 Commander Michael Eakin at 541-733-5791.