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2021 Virtual Parade of Winners

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Every year, nearly 230,000 of our nation's youth compete in the VFW's Voice of Democracy and Patriot's Pen audio essay competitions for their chance to win a portion of more than $3 million in college scholarships and awards.

The competitions culminate with the Parade of Winners event, designed to celebrate and recognize the contests’ top national winners. 

This year, the VFW hosted its first-ever, virtual Parade of Winners on April 1, live on Facebook. 

During the historic event, VFW and VFW Auxiliary state and national leadership, representatives from program sponsors Twisted X and Dell , and this year’s 52 Voice of Democracy Department (state) winners came together from all over the world as we crowned the 2021 national Voice of Democracy first place winner.

This year’s event also held a few surprises and guest appearances from those well-known to the VFW community.

Open to eligible middle and high school students, the Voice of Democracy and Patriot’s Pen essay competitions require students submit an essay based on a selected patriotic theme. Winning entries selected by local VFW Posts go on to compete at their District and Department (state) level, with state winners competing at the national level.

The Voice of Democracy top prize is the $30,000 T.C. Selman Memorial Scholarship, and the Patriot’s Pen grand prize winner receives the $5,000 Paul A. Spera Past Commander-in-Chief Award.

Voice of Democracy

Established in 1947, our Voice of Democracy audio-essay program provides high school students with the unique opportunity to express themselves in regards to a democratic and patriotic-themed recorded essay. Each year, nearly 64,500 9-12 grade students from across the country enter to win their share of more than $2.1 million in educational scholarships and incentives awarded through the program. 

  About the 2019-20 winner ...

Shruthi Kumar, a high school senior from Marian High School in Omaha, Nebraska, was named the 2019-20 Voice of Democracy first place winner. Shruthi's speech on the theme, "What Makes America Great," won her a $30,000 college scholarship. Shruthi was sponsored by VFW Post 1581 in Omaha, Nebraska. Watch as Shruthi delivered her winning speech  during the Parade of Winners ceremony at the 2020 VFW Legislative Conference. 

Patriot's Pen

Each year more than 165,400 students in grades 6-8 enter the VFW’s Patriot’s Pen youth essay contest for a chance to win their share of more than $1.4 million in state and national awards. Each first place state winner receives a minimum of $500 at the national level, and the national first place winner wins $5,000! 

About the 2019-20 winner ...

Ruby Howe, a seventh grade student from Rochester Hills, Michigan, was named the 2019-20  Patriot's Pen first place winner. Her essay on the theme, "What Makes America Great," won her a $5,000 award. Ruby was sponsored by VFW Post 334 in Lake Orion, Michigan.  Watch as Ruby delivered her winning essay  during the 2020 VFW Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C. 

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Patriot's Pen

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Fairport harbor vfw contest winners, patriot's pen.

Each year, more than 165,400 students in grades 6-8 enter the VFW’s Patriot’s Pen youth essay contest for a chance to win their share of more than $1.4 million in state and national awards. Each first-place state winner receives a minimum of $500 at the national level, and the national first-place winner wins $5,000! 

The essay contest encourages young minds to examine America’s history, along with their own experiences in modern American society, by drafting a 300- to 400-word essay, expressing their views based on a patriotic theme chosen by the VFW Commander-in-Chief. 

VFW Contest 2/2/23

VFW  Awards - The 2021-22 theme is: 

How Can I Be a Good American?

Dan Sherwood - VFW Representative here from the Fairport Harbor VFW Post 7754

Participation: - All received a VFW Backpack:

1st place: Brooklynn Reglus

2nd place: Issac Robinson

3rd place: Rmani Pearson

2020-2021 VFW Contest Winners

2016 & 2017 Winners

Voice of democracy speech competition and patriot's pen essay competition, your browser does not support html5 video  .

Thank you to Auburn Career Center students in the Instructional Media Technology class for creating the video of our assembly. 

Please download and read our  Patriot's Pen and  Voice of Democracy  - Fall 2016 Winners

Vfw winning essays.

Patriot's Pen Winners - "The America I Believe In"

• 1st place: James Dean Spiesman
• Tierny DeGidio
• Connor Hulett
• Ryan Heller  
• Joseph Tanker

Voice of Democracy Winners - "My Responsibility to America"

• 1st place: Jessie Smith
• 2nd place: Gabby Palmer
• 3rd place: Marcus Toreki

Voice of Democracy District 7 Winner - March 25, 2017

Gabby Palmer was invited to the local VFW Saturday, March 25, 2017, for a lovely awards presentation. Gabby also won 2nd place for the entire District which encompasses 5 counties (Lake, Geauga, Ashtabula, Medina, and Cuyahoga).  She was unable to attend the District awards ceremony as she was in the musical the weekend they gave out the awards.  A representative from District 7 came to the dinner and gave her a medal, a plaque and $500.  So in total, she won $300 from the local VFW Post 7754, $75 from the local women's auxiliary and $500 from the Ohio District 7 VFW. Congratulations Gabby Palmer. Please download a few pictures from the event here .

Please download and read our  Patriot's Pen and  Voice of Democracy  - Fall 2017 Winners

Patriot's pen essay winners - fall 2017 - congratulations to our middle school patriot's pen essay winners.

• 1st place:  Morgan Braemer
• 2nd place: Emily Luke
• 3rd place:  Natalie Gladding  

Representatives from the VFW Post 7754 came to present awards to each of these students for their winning essays. Commander Kalal, President of the Essay Contests Mr. Sherwood and VFW Secretary Janet Merrick were at Fairport Harding High School to present awards. The theme for this year's contest was: America's Gift to My Generation. There were just over 70 essays submitted from grades 6-8 from just Fairport Harding Jr. High to the local VFW Post 7754. Mrs. Merrick shared the great news that 8th grader Morgan Braemer's first-place essay has placed third in the district and has moved on to the state competition. We wish Morgan Braemer the best and are very proud of her accomplishments!! Congrats again to all of our essay winners.

Voice of Democracy Winners - Fall 2017 - Congratulations to our High School Voice of Democracy Winners!

1st place:  Maya Hess

2nd place:  Adam Wilson

3rd place:  Angie Gutekunst

Just under 50 high school students competed in the Voice of Democracy speech contest this year. Students in grades 9-12 had to write a speech and then record it. Auburn Career Center's IMT students came to Fairport earlier in October and then created the audio recordings on CDs for our students to submit to the Fairport VFW. Thank you to all who participated and shared their opinions on America's Future! Well done to our three high school speech winners! Around September of next school year, please be on the lookout for next year's annual VFW Voice of Democracy contest and be sure to submit yours! 

If you would like to watch Morgan Braemer and Maya Hess deliver their winning speeches, please watch the video on Youtube below:  

(Video Credits: Auburn Career Center Instructional Media Technology Program)

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Three sixth graders win VFW essay contest

At Hope Elementary, Clark Fork VFW Commander Thompson presents the first and second place Patriot Pen essay writers their certificates, medals and checks. (left to right) Tel Thompson, Elyssa Rynor (second place), Ezekiel Green (first place for Clark Fork and third in District 1) and Jennifer Majors. (Photo by: EMILY BONSANT)

Azelynn Petersen can in third for the VFW Clark Fork Post Patriot Pen essay contest.

HOPE — Three Hope Elementary sixth graders have earned honors — and a little bit of money — in the Veteran of Foreign Wars’ annual Patriot Pen essay contest.

Conducted nationwide, the VFW-sponsored youth essay competition is an opportunity for students in sixth, seventh and eighth grade to write essays expressing their views on an annual patriotic theme. More than 165,400 students enter the Patriot Pen contest each year for a chance to win their share of $1.4 million in state and national awards.

First-place winners receive a minimum of $500 at the national level, said VFW officials. The national first place winner wins $5,000. This year’s essay prompt was “How Can I Be a Good American.”

“Teachers were only allowed to coach students through the contest rules,” said Jennifer Majors, a teacher at Hope Elementary. “I couldn’t help them in any way, shape or form.”

Essays were then sent to a committee of judges who graded the essays on content and grammar in order to pick a winner. Clark Fork VFW Commander Tel Thompson was on the committee and presented the awards at Hope Elementary on Dec. 9.

In third place was Azelynn Petersen, who won $50. Elyssa Rynor came in second and won $75. Ezekiel Green came in first place, winning $100.

Majors asked the students what they planned to spend their prize money on. Azelynn said she is going to buy her mom and dad Christmas presents with her money.

Zeke [Ezekiel] said he’s going to use the money to buy his friends some gifts and a new battery for his phone. Elyssa said she’s going to use the money to buy Christmas presents for family and friends.

Since Ezekiel came in first for the Clark Fork VFW competition he was submitted to the district level, which covers the Idaho panhandle. His essay went up against 15 other first place competitors. Ezekiel came in third for all of District 1 and received another $50.

The Clark Fork VFW Post contestants Patriot Pen competition is open to students from Hope Elementary and Clark Fork Jr. High School. This year, the contest attracted only nine essay submissions — all of which were from Jennifer Majors’ sixth-grade class.

“Ezekiel was the clear front runner for all of us [judges]. He was by far above all the others,” said Thompson.

Second and third place were close, said Thompson. He said since the checks are written out to the winners they get to spend it on whatever they want.

Majors said that the essay had a strict 300- to 400-word limit. The tricky part of the sixth graders was to write within the word count and still get all their thoughts down. The lack of teacher involvement was very different from what they were used to.

“Since they did not receive feedback like they normally would they had to be completely independent. So I was really impressed,” said Majors.

“Zeke [Ezekiel] wrote on American inventions, which is something that no one else touched on,” she added.

With the essay prompt being personal all students wrote very different essays, she said. She said the three students who won were new to Hope Elementary this year, but not new to the district.

Not all sixth graders at Hope Elementary entered the contest. Majors said that many students joined in on the contests but dropped off before the deadline.

“And for these three students who are new to Hope Elementary this year to trust the process with me, I felt that was a really neat thing to have from them,” she said.

Majors said that this was the first time Ezekiel had ever entered a writing contest.

“But what a discovery for him to find out about himself that he's a writer,” said Majors.

She went on to say that competitions like this make students realize that they can get paid to write. It brings the lessons she teaches the students into the world outside of school.

“When you play a sport and you get acknowledged, you realize that maybe you’re an athlete,” said Majors. “So this contest could be a really big deal for the kids who entered and won something. It could be like life changing by realizing something about themselves as writers that they would have never known.”

Thompson gave the award to the three winners in front of the fourth and fifth graders in hopes that they will enter the essay contest in upcoming years. He said the VFW also had a competition at the high school level, although that is still a ways off to an elementary student.

Students can enter the essay contest from sixth grade through eighth to the Patriot Pen contest. High school students can enter the Voice of Democracy contest. Homeschool students can enter as well.

Thompson said that every VFW is supposed to participate in the contest. For more information go VFW scholarships go to www.vfw.org/community/youth-and-education/youth-scholarships

(Courtesy photo)

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Post Recognizes Local Winners of National VFW Essay Contests

VFW Post 8870 and Auxiliary > News > Post Recognizes Local Winners of National VFW Essay Contests

Author: Editor February 10, 2017

News , Newsletter Articles

National VFW Essay Contests , patriots pen , vfw essay contest , voice of democracy , youth essay

At the January Post meeting, we recognized several local students as winners in the annual National VFW Essay contest. One of those honored, Edmonds-Woodway High School student Olivia Olsen, won first place for the third year in a row.

The theme for this year’s Youth Essay contest for grades 4 and 5 was “Why Are Men and Women Who Serve in the Military Special?” Winners were Finley Gonzales, a 4th grade student at Endeavour Elementary School and Margaret Moon, a 5th grade student at Mukilteo Elementary School. Runners up at this grade level who also attend Mukilteo Elementary School were Joel Brannon, Abbey Summerville, and Audrey Stewart. Two 5th graders, Trevor Coble and Ethan Jacobsen, who attend Brier Elementary School, were also selected as runners-up. Margaret was presented with a $100 scholarship from the Post, and each runner up received a $25 scholarship.

This contest is open for Middle school students in grades 6, 7, and 8, and the theme this year was “The America I Believe In.” The winning entry was submitted by Mohuwa Wahid, of Explorer Middle School. Mohuwa follows her sister, Lara, previously a two-time winner in this competition. She received a $100 scholarship. Sara Hatab of Olympic View Middle School was named runner-up. She received a $25 scholarship.

Edmonds-Woodway 11th grader Olivia Olsen garnered 1st place honors and a $100 scholarship in the Voice of Democracy contest. This essay contest is open to high school students in grades 9-12. While the Youth Essay and Patriot’s Pen competition requires a written essay, the Voice of Democracy competition requires the submission of an audio essay. This year’s topic was “My Responsibility to America.” Lara Wahid, a 9th grade student at Kamiak High School was awarded runner-up honors.

Each of the students who won their respective contests, read their essays to the nearly 80 parents, family members, and VFW members who were in attendance at the Jan. 10 meeting.

The post’s student essay competition is coordinated by Fred Apgar who also serves as post chaplain. The winning entries have been forwarded to Washington State VFW for consideration at the district and state levels.

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Local VFW’s announce winners for annual essay contest

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PATRIOT PEN

2023-2024 Patriot's Pen Essay Theme "How are you inspired by America" Each year more than 165,400 students in grades 6-8 enter the VFW’s Patriot’s Pen youth essay contest for a chance to win their share of more than $1.4 million in state and national awards. Each 1st place state winner receives a minimum of $500 at the national level, and the national first place winner wins $5,000!  The essay contest encourages young minds to examine America’s history, along with their own experiences in modern American society, by drafting a 300- to 400-word essay, expressing their views based on a patriotic theme chosen by the VFW Commander-in-Chief. Want to apply?  2023-2024 Patriots Pen Announcement Letter Click Here 2023-2024 Patriots Pen entry form Click here Score sheet for judging can be found here .    NOTE : PA has due dates different than those publicized by National VFW!        October 31, 2023-Student deadline Entry is midnight.        November 18, 2023 -Post judging completed.        December 3, 2023    District judging completed.        December 9, 2023   District Winner entry form, flash drive of essay, typed essay, head and shoulder photo of good quality, District summary report and District participation report must be sent to Department Chairman:    Pennsylvania VFW Patriot's Pen Chairman William (Bill) Lamond VFW Post 5207 (10) 3360 Nashotka Rd. Madison Twp, Pa.  18444 570-241-5875 [email protected]     December 11, 2023-Department judging  January 15, 2024-Department Winner and Reports submitted to VFW National HQ January 20, 2024-Annual Voice of Democracy Banquet-DoubleTree by Hilton-Pittsburgh Cranberry

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New Blaine VFW awards essay contest winners

The Veterans of Foreign Wars post in New Blaine named four students as winners of its first essay contest. 

Jaden Perry, a senior at Western Yell County High School, won the senior high portion of the contest. Perry is  

The prompt for her essay was "America: Where do we go from here?" where she laid out struggles facing the United States including barriers to mental health resources, homelessness and school shootings. 

"It all starts with us. It starts with how strongly we want our country to prosper," Perry wrote in her essay. "It starts with how far we are willing to go to bring us to that point. We don't need deceitful promises of 'Making America Great Again,' we need to create a new America. An America that truly cares for everyone's right to their freedom." 

Perry said she is passionate about what she believes in and wanted to give voice to her beliefs. 

“I really wanted to help people out with it and get my voice out on issues I’m passionate about," Perry said. 

The junior high competition yielded three winners who the VFW asked to examine the question "How can I be a good American?"

William Schmitz, a sixth-grader from St. Joseph Catholic School, won first place. Allison Wood, a seventh-grader from St. Joseph Catholic School, won second place, and Elizabeth Cauthron, an eighth-grader from St. Joseph Catholic School, won third place. 

All three students focused on recycling and obeying laws as ways that they can be good Americans. 

“I feel like I want to grow up and I want my children to grow up and their children to grow up in a healthy environment," Wood said. 

Schmitz and Wood also highlighted the importance of voting in their essays. 

They all pledged to be good Americans. 

"I have a lot of pride in my country, and as I grow older, I'll continue to be the best citizen I can be," Cauthron wrote in her essay. 

Joe Stone, who has been a part of the VFW since April, said there were 12 submissions in response to the post's call for essay contestants. 

 Stone said the post chose the four winners based on how they addressed the prompts. 

“These were the ones that addressed the requirements of the essay to a T," Stone said. 

Robert Hurst, also with the VFW, said he was deeply impressed with the submissions. 

“But I don’t think I read any of them that I wasn’t a little shocked that this came from a kid and a young adult," Hurst said. 

Hurst said it is important to seek out the opinions of younger people. 

“I think us adults can learn a few things from these kids," Hurst said. 

The first-place winners will go on to compete against other students in their district. If they win that, they will go on to compete against students across the state, and if they win that, they will compete with students from across the nation. 

The first-place national winner in the senior high division will receive $30,000 in scholarships. 

Alex Gladden is a University of Arkansas graduate. She previously reported for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette and The Jonesboro Sun before joining the Times Record. She can be contacted at [email protected].  

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Jay VFW announces annual essay contest winners

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The Patriots Pen essay winners are pictured with VFW post members. In front from left are Ophelia Hughes, first; Avery Ryder, third; and Madison Cardes, second. In back are Jim Manter, judge advocate; Dave Lachapelle, quartermaster; and Don Frechette, commander. Contributed

JAY — Frank L. Mitchell Post 3335, Veterans of Foreign Wars, has announced the 2020 local winners of the Patroits Pen Essay Competition. Students in the Jay/Livermore/Livermore Falls area submitted essays expressing their views on an annual patriotic theme, this year being, “What is Patriotism to Me?”

Receiving first place was Ophelia Hughes; second, Madison Cardes; and third, Avery Ryder. Thirteen students submitted essays and were independently judged by the leaders from Livermore/Jay/Livermore Falls. Judging is based on how well the applicants understand, develop and present the annual theme in their essays.

Post Commander Don Frechette said this year’s essays were especially well written and it was a pleasure to see the large turnout. “It’s an honor to have so many students submit a heartfelt view on patriotism. In today’s social challenges, this is one way the VFW reaches out on a national level to students to engage them in the learning about local veterans and veterans organizations that are in their area,” he said in a news release.

The Patriots Pen is an annual nationwide competition open to sixth, seventh and eighth graders and home schooled students, giving an opportunity to write essays expressing their views on an annual patriotic theme. Last year more than 138,000 students participated nationally through their local VFW posts.

Local post winners go to the regional level, followed by the state level. State winners advance to the national level, where over $55,000 in scholarships were awarded in 2019.

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Latah County Human Rights Task Force

Strengthening the bonds of community to embrace diversity and reject bigotry..

Welcome to the Latah County Human Rights Task Force webpage!

Congratulations to the 2023-2024 MLK Art and Essay Contest winners!

This year’s theme was FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AND OUR LIBRARIES

The winners for the Art Contest were Cece Rose Ristene (St. Mary’s), Eduarda Gurge (Moscow Charter), Quinten Rowley (Moscow Charter), Hayley Cohee (Moscow Charter),

The winners for the Essay Contest included Cordelia Haley (Lena Whitmore), Leo Johnson (St. Mary’s), Fern Newlan (St. Mary’s), Catherine Apt (McDonald), Amy Zhou (Moscow Charter School), Naya Lee (Lena Whitmore), Emily Scout Heward (Lena Whitmore), Nora Algarni (Moscow Middle School), Lillian Camin, (Moscow Middle School), and Morgan Apt (Moscow High School).

A little about us and ways to become involved!

Our 2023 Martin Luther King, Jr. Breakfast on January 21st was a great success with an excellent presentation by Dr. Scott Finnie. A video of the Breakfast, including the Rosa Parks Awards and Dr. Finnie’s speech is now available here: 2023 Breakfast and Friends of Human Rights .

The Rosa Parks Award winners are available here: 2023 Rosa Parks Award Winners | Latah County Human Rights Task Force (humanrightslatah.org)

The Art and Essay Contest winners are available here: 2023 Art and Essay Contest Winners | Latah County Human Rights Task Force (humanrightslatah.org)

Dr. Scott Finnie’s Keynote address at the 2023 MLK Jr. Breakfast:

AREA RESPONSE TO ANTISEMITISM

Check out the recent Palouse Pride Day under Recent Events here: Palouse Pride Day 2021

Our mission:  To work for social justice for all people by supporting diversity, respect, and inclusiveness, while opposing bigotry, harassment, and discrimination.

Please click our Announcements tab for current or upcoming events. (For upcoming events visit: Upcoming Events )

These are annual events that the Task Force currently sponsors:

• Martin Luther King Art and Essay Contest – January
• Presentation of Rosa Parks Human Rights Achievement Awards – January
• Human Rights Day at the Moscow Farmer’s Market – September (Visit: HR Day )
• Great Moscow Food Drive – August
• Human Rights Education Programs for Area Schools – throughout the school year

and we encourage you to attend or support us in these events.

Meetings of the Latah County Human Rights Task Force are generally held the second Thursday of each month, and you are welcome to attend.

Please visit our Facebook page: Facebook

If you are interested in joining, volunteering, or attending a meeting, please see our Contact Us page: Contact Us

YOUTH ESSAYS

Youth Scholarships

The VFW is dedicated to promoting patriotism and investing in our future generation. If you are a democracy-loving high school student interested in a $35,000 college scholarship or a patriotic middle school student interested in winning $5,000, these scholarships may be for you.

Voice of Democracy

Established in 1947, our  Voice of Democracy  audio-essay program provides high school students with the unique opportunity to express themselves in regards to a democratic and patriotic-themed recorded essay.  Each year, nearly 25,000 ninth through 12th grade students from across the country enter to win their share of more than $1 million in educational scholarships and incentives awarded through the program. 

The national first place winner receives a $35,000 scholarship paid directly to the recipient’s American university, college or vocational/technical school. A complete list of other national scholarships range from $1,000-$21,000, and the first place winner from each VFW Department (state) wins at least a scholarship of $1,000. Before submitting your essay, download the  2024-2025 entry form here  and find your sponsoring  local VFW Post  as applications must be turned in by  midnight, Oct. 31 . 

The 2024-25 theme is:  "Is America Today Our Forefathers' Vision?"

About the 2023-2024 winner ...

Sophia Lin, a high school junior at BASIS Scottsdale in Scottsdale, Arizona, was named the 2023-2024 Voice of Democracy first place winner. Sophia's speech on the theme, "What Are the Greatest Attributes of Our Democracy?" won her a $35,000 college scholarship. Sophia was sponsored by Scottsdale VFW Post 3513.  Watch as Sophia delivered her speech during the VFW's Parade of Winners award  ceremony or  read it here .

Want to catch up on everything that happened this year? You can watch the full  Parade of Winners ceremony  which was streamed live on Facebook, or  see this year's complete list of winners .

Patriot's Pen

Each year, nearly 68,800 students in sixth through eighth grades enter the VFW’s  Patriot’s Pen  youth essay contest for a chance to win their share of nearly $1 million in state and national awards. Each first place state winner receives a minimum of $500 at the national level, and the national first place winner wins $5,000! 

The essay contest encourages young minds to examine America’s history, along with their own experiences in modern American society, by drafting a 300- to 400-word essay, expressing their views based on a patriotic theme chosen by the VFW Commander-in-Chief. Before submitting your essay,  download the 2024-2025 entry form here  and  find your sponsoring  local VFW Post  as applications must be turned in by  midnight, Oct. 31 . 

The 2023-24 theme is:  "My Voice in America's Democracy?"

Bryant Day, an eighth grade student from Ashland, Ohio, was named the 2023-2024 Patriot's Pen first place winner. His essay on the theme, "How Are You Inspired by America?" won the national first place $5,000 award. Bryant was sponsored by VFW Post 9943 and its Auxiliary in Mansfield, Ohio.

Watch as Bryant delivered his winning essay  during the VFW's Parade of Winners streamed live on Facebook, or  read  his essay here.  See the complete list of 2024 national winners .

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James Beard Awards

Awards menu, awards news, congratulations to the 2024 restaurant and chef award nominees and achievement award honorees view the full list on the blog post and/or press release .  , watch our videos on how to submit entries and recommendations:.

Take a look at this year's featured cooking chefs here!

The mission of the James Beard Awards is to recognize exceptional talent and achievement in the culinary arts, hospitality, media, and broader food system, as well as a demonstrated commitment to racial and gender equity, community, sustainability, and a culture where all can thrive.

For press information, including accessing media credentials for the 2024 ceremonies, please click here .

2024 Announcements:

• Restaurant and Chef Awards Semifinalists ( blog post and  press release )
• America's Classics Winners ( blog post and/or press release )

About the James Beard Awards

Established in 1990 with the first awards given in 1991, the James Beard Awards are among the nation’s most prestigious honors recognizing leaders in the culinary and food media industries, and those in the broader food systems. The Awards are overseen by the Awards Committee. Each Awards program (Book, Broadcast Media, Journalism, Leadership, and Restaurant and Chef) has its own subcommittee members who volunteer their time to oversee the policies, procedures, and selection of judges for their respective program. All James Beard Award winners receive a certificate and a medallion engraved with the James Beard Foundation Awards insignia. For additional information on the Awards, please visit the Policy and FAQ pages.

Categories, Eligibility, and Submission Guidelines

Restaurant and chef awards.

• Outstanding Restaurateur
• Outstanding Chef
• Outstanding Restaurant
• Emerging Chef
• Best New Restaurant
• Outstanding Bakery
• Outsanding Pastry Chef or Baker
• Outstanding Hospitality
• Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program
• Outstanding Bar
• Great Lakes (IL, IN, MI, OH)
• Mid-Atlantic (DC, DE, MD, NJ, PA, VA)
• Midwest (IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, ND, SD, WI)
• Mountain (CO, ID, MT, UT, WY)
• New York State
• Northeast (CT, MA, ME, MH, RI, VT)
• Northwest & Pacific (AK, HI, OR, WA)
• Southeast (GA, KY, NC, SC, TN, WV)
• South (AL, AR, FL, LA, MS, PR)
• Southwest (AZ, NM, NV, OK)
• America's Classics

MEDIA AWARDS  

• Baking and Desserts
• Beverage with Recipes
• Beverage without Recipes
• Food Issues and Advocacy
• International
• Literary Writing
• Reference, History, and Scholarship
• Restaurant and Professional
• Single Subject
• U.S. Foodways
• Vegetable-Focused Cooking
• Cookbook Hall of Fame
• Emerging Voice
• Audio Programming
• Audio Reporting
• Commercial Media
• Documentary Visual Media
• Docuseries Visual Media
• Instructional Visual Media
• Unscripted Visual Media
• Visual Media—Short Form
• Visual Media—Long Form
• Social Media Account
• Columns and Newsletters
• Craig Claiborne Distinguished Criticism Award
• Dining and Travel
• Feature Reporting
• Food Coverage in a General Interest Publication
• Health and Wellness
• Home Cooking
• Innovative Visual Storytelling
• Investigative Reporting
• Jonathan Gold Local Voice Award
• MFK Fisher Distinguished Writing Award
• Personal Essay with Recipes
• Personal Essay

LEADERSHIP AWARDS  

• Sustainability
• Policy Advocacy
• Industry Culture and Practices
• Food Security and Access
• Emerging Leadership

Open Call Process

The deadline for Broadcast Media and Journalism has been extended to Thursday, December 7, 2023, at 11:59 EST. Open Call for Entries are conducted and require a fee of $85.00 per entry (waivers provided upon request). Winners and nominees are selected from the entries. Learn more on our Policies and Procedures page .

Open Call for Recommendations are conducted in addition to recommendations provided by the Awards program’s voting body. Recommendations from the public are reviewed and considered by the Subcommittees when compiling the semifinalist list. There are no entry fees for these programs. Learn more on our Policies and Procedures page .

There is no open call for entries. Prospective candidates are researched and recommended by Awards Committee members, subcommittee members, and judges from all Awards programs. 

For all Awards programs: Committees meet after the open call for entries and recommendations close to review and confirm the eligibility of the entries and recommendations.  

The voting body, including judges chosen for their expertise per program, then review and vote on the entries to determine the nominees and winners, as applicable to each program.

Learn more on our Policies and Procedures page .

Code of Ethics and Awards Audit

The 2022 Awards were the first since changes to the Awards were made as a result of an audit of our policies and procedures, including establishing a Code of Ethics and an independent review process conducted by our volunteer Ethics Committee.

For information about our Code of Ethics, policy, and process, please click here .

2023 Awards Highlights

Watch the recorded Ceremonies:

• Restaurant and Chef Award Winners ( blog post and press release )
• Leadership Award Winners ( blog post and press release )
• Media Award Winners ( blog post and press release)
• Media Award Nominees ( blog post and press release )
• Restaurant and Chef Award Nominees, Leadership Award Winners, Humanitarian of the Year and Lifetime Achievement Award Honorees ( blog post and press release )
• America's Classics Winners ( blog post and press release )
• Restaurant and Chef Award Semifinalists ( blog post and press release )
• Open Call for Entry and Recommendation period ( blog post  and  press release )

For press information, please click here .

Follow us on our social channels: @beardfoundation on Twitter , Instagram , and Facebook using the hashtag #jbfa. For features and stories related to the James Beard Awards click here .

AWARDS KEY DATES

2024 james beard awards presented by capital one  , restaurant and chef award semifinalist announcement: january 24, 2024, america's classics winner announcement: february 28, 2024, restaurant and chef awards nominee and achievement awards honoree announcement (leadership, humanitarian of the year, and lifetime achievement award): april 3, 2024, media awards nominee announcement: april 30, 2024, media awards: june 8, 2024, leadership awards: june 9, 2024, restaurant and chef awards: june 10, 2024.

*Please note that announcement dates may be subject to change.

AWARDS STORIES

The 2024 Restaurant and Chef Award Nominees

Ellen Yin's Recipe for Hospitality Success and Uplifting Those Along the Way

Announcing the 2024 Restaurant and Chef America's Classics Winners

The 2024 James Beard Awards Semifinalists

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