Each year, more than 3,500 9-12 grade students from across the country enter to win one of nine National awards totaling $31,000. The national first-place winner receives a $15,000 scholarship paid directly to the recipient’s American university, college, or vocational/technical school. District and Department-level Auxiliaries offer scholarships and awards totaling more than $135,000. Please promote this contest in your area. There are amazing young artists in our urban and suburban and rural areas. Open to all students, including home-schooled students, in grades 9-12, no older than 18 years of age at the time of local entry, and a U.S. citizen or U.S. National. It will be judged on a patriotic theme and technique. One (1) Department winner will be forwarded to Auxiliary National Headquarters. Please see the student brochure for more details on the requirements. Students must attend school in the state of the sponsoring Auxiliary.
Entries should be sent to Department Scholarships Chair with a signature required for delivery. Lost entries are not the responsibility of the VFW Auxiliary, Department of Texas or the Department Chair.
DEADLINES:
Entries received by local Auxiliary no later than March 31, 2021
Entries to District- judging is optional but winners must meet the Department deadline. Entries received by Department no later than April 15, 2021
Entries received by National Headquarters no later than May 5, 2021
Two- and- Three- Dimensional Art Forms Accepted
The Patriotic Art Contest accepts both two and three-dimensional art. See the rules below:
Two-dimensional art:
- Must be on canvas or paper
- Watercolor, pencil, pastel, charcoal, tempera, crayon, acrylic, pen, ink, oil, marker, or other media may be used.
- Do not frame two-dimensional pieces.
- Submit canvas entries on a stretcher frame or canvas board
- Other entries must be matted in white
- Do not use color mats. Reinforce the back with heavy paper
- Mounted and floating mats may also be used.
- The art should be no smaller than 8″Xl O”, but no larger than l8″X24″, not including mat.
Three-dimensional art:
- Can be paper, papier-mache, pottery, sculpture, fabric, wood, metalwork, etc.
- Pieces should be no longer than 5 lbs.in weight.
Digital art, photography and jewelry are not accepted.
National Scholarships:
First Place- $15,000
Second Place- $7,500
Third Place- $3,500
Fourth and Fifth Place- $1,500
Sixth through Ninth Place- $500
Student brochures are available below. Please be sure to complete the entry form and attach it to the back of the entered artwork. Pay close attention to the contest rules, size requirements and eligibility requirements to avoid any disqualifications. One(l) Department winner will be forwarded to National Headquarters for judging.
SPECIAL NOTE: FOREIGN EXCHANGE STUDENTS ARE NOT ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE
Get The Word Out!
The first step is to identify likely individuals with whom you can discuss scholarship opportunities. You’ve already gotten the word out to the schools, but don’t overlook other groups that might be interested in what you have to say: –
- JROTC Units
- Church and/or youth groups
- Youth-focused organizations
- Home-school associations
- Parent-teacher associations
- Youth sports team
- Financial Aid offices
- Student veteran centers
