Students can apply now for the Veterans of Foreign Wars Voice of Democracy contest for grades 9-12 and Patriot’s Pen contest for grades 6-8. The deadline to apply is Oct. 31.

The Voice of Democracy program for students in grades 9-12 offers more than $1.9 million in educational scholarships. This year’s audio-essay theme is “Is This the Country the Founders Envisioned?”

The national winner receives a $30,000 scholarship paid directly to the recipient’s American university, college or vocational/technical school. Other national scholarship opportunities range from $1,000 to $16,00...