The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 276 last week announced three school-related contests. Deadline for all three contests is Nov. 1. For more information, contact VFW Post 276 at 862-4949.

• The 14th annual Smart/Maher VFW Citizenship Education Teacher Award contest is for teachers in grades K-5, 6-8 and 9-12 nominated by fellow teachers, students, administrators or interested individuals.

Winners can win $1,000 for their professional development, $1,000 for their school and an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C. For details, visit online at www.vfw.org/Community/Teacher-of-the-Year.

• The 66th annual Voice of Democracy Scholarship Competition is for local high school students who present a 3-5 minute written and recorded essay on the question “Is our Constitution still relevant?”

The state winner will receive a four-day trip to Washington, D.C. The first-place national winner will receive $30,000. An audio cassette tape or CD and a typed essay must be presented to the local VFW Post. For details, visit online at www.vfw.org/Community/Voice-of-Democracy.

• The 18th annual Patriot’s Pen Essay Competition is for students in grades 6-8 who present a 300-400 word essay on “What I would tell America’s founding fathers.” State winners will receive $5,000. For details, visit online at www.vfw.org/Community/Patriot-s-Pen.