VOC Launches Student Essay Contest

The Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation (VOC) will honor the legacy of the Declaration of Independence with an essay contest that will teach students about freedom movements that directly cited or paraphrased the Declaration of Independence. This will demonstrate to citizens and students the exceptional nature of the American “experiment” in self-government and ordered liberty.

One scholar has suggested that nearly 200 countries and overseas political movements have cited the Declaration, from Haiti to Kosovo. For example, Mahatma Gandhi used the language of the Declaration in 1930. Czech anti-communist, dissident, playwright, and later president of free Czechoslovakia, Vaclav Havel asserted the transcendent nature of the Declaration: “The Declaration of Independence … states that the Creator gave man the right to liberty. It seems man can realize that liberty only if he does not forget the One who endowed him with it.”

The Foundation will recognize up to 52 outstanding student essays that focus attention on how the Declaration of Independence influenced declarations, speeches, and other political writing in foreign contexts during the 20th century. We are especially interested in short essays that focus on those seeking freedom from communist and Marxist systems.

The contest is open to grades 8-12 and college students from across the United States. Essays should be between 750-1000 words and utilize the Chicago Manual of Style with endnotes for any citations. Students should agree to avoid plagiarism or the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in drafting the text of the essay. Students should send their essays via attachment to 1776@victimsofcommunism.org and clearly specify their name, hometown, school, phone number, and email address. The contest opens on July 4, 2025.

The Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation will electronically publish up to one high quality essay per week during 2026. Each winner will be recognized with a $100 Amazon Gift Card. In addition, the Foundation may recognize first ($1,000), second ($500), and third place ($250) for university students and high school students.