Victims of Communism Day Scholarship Competition Overview
All eligible participants will be required to attend a one-day workshop on Saturday, December 6 from 8:30am – 2:30pm. This workshop will be held at the State College of Florida Bradenton campus located at 5840 26th St W, Bradenton, FL 34207.
The workshop will be held in the Together Manatee Community Room located in the Library (Bldg. 3) on the accompanying map.
Victims of Communism Program Timeline
October 3: First day of enrollment.
December 4: Last day to register for workshop and submit Workshop Parental Consent Form.
December 6: Victims of Communism mandatory workshop at State College of Florida Bradenton Campus in the Together Manatee community Room of the Library.
December 13: Online registration of Scholarship Project Title and Category due.
New Year 2026
January 10: Scholarship project completion date. Essays must be submitted online.
January 17: Exhibits and Oratory presentations judged at the West Bradenton Baptist Church at 10:00am.
January 31: Scholarship Awards presentation at the State College of Florida Neel Auditorium starting at 6pm.
Rules for Participation
- Online registration begins on October 3 and ends on December 4.
- All enrollments will require a $20 enrollment fee. This entitles the student and one parent each a prepaid lunch during the workshop.
- Attendance at the December 6 Workshop in its entirety is required for participation.
- Video/audio recording or photography during the Workshop is not allowed.
- All participants must be preregistered in order to attend the Workshop. Walk-ins will not be admitted.
- Participation is limited to high school students residing in, or attending a high school in, Manatee and Sarasota Counties.
- The program will be strictly limited to the first 100 students enrolled in the program.
- Participants will have 6 weeks to complete their work products prior to Judging on Saturday, January 17th.
- Use of AI tools in the development of the work product is strictly prohibited.
- Awards will be presented on Saturday, January 31, 2026 at 6pm at the Neel Auditorium on the State College of Florida Bradenton Campus.
- A Parental Consent form must be completed and signed prior to attending both the workshop and award ceremony. The form may accessed by clicking the button below
- It is strongly suggested that all participants download the program Student Handbook. This is a great resource that provides details on the rules and judging criteria. It is loaded with useful examples and tips to help make your project come together quickly.
Victims of Communism Student Handbook
Embarking on the VOCF scholarship program is much like setting out on a long journey—you would never begin without a reliable map. In the same way, success in this program hinges upon your careful reading and adherence to the VOCF Handbook. The Handbook serves as your essential guide, outlining the specific routes you must take depending on the Topic and Category you choose. Unlike a GPS, which offers general directions, the Handbook provides tailored instructions vital for navigating the unique paths within the scholarship process.
Guidance and Evaluation
Throughout your journey, you will have access to trained guides who are dedicated to assisting you. These guides not only offer support but also serve as evaluators during the judging phase. They will closely examine your work to ensure that you consistently follow the established rules and meet the important analysis criteria outlined in the Handbook.
Wishing You Success
As you proceed, remember that this journey promises both educational and financial rewards. By following the Handbook and making use of the guidance provided, you can maximize your chances of achieving success in the VOCF scholarship program.
To download the Student Handbook, just click on the button below.
One of the advantages of this program is that the work products may also be used as the basis for submissions to other scholarships programs. We have aggregated these into an addendum to our Handbook which may be downloaded by clicking the button below.