02/16/2026
Reminder: Auxiliary Scholarship Opportunities due March 31st
2025-2026 Young American Creative Patriotic Art Contests
Each year, more than 4,000 high school students from across the country participate in the VFW Auxiliary’s Young American Creative Patriotic Art Contest. The contest began in 1979 to recognize up-and-coming artists and encourage patriotism in youth.
https://vfwauxiliary.org/wp-content/uploads/VFW-Patriotic-Art-Brochure_NEW-BROCHURE_2025-UPDATES_V5.pdf
Two-dimensional entries:
Who is Eligible to Apply?
• Students in grades 9-12.
• Foreign exchange students, students age 20 or older, GED and adult education students, or national winners of previous Young American Creative Patriotic Art Contests are ineligible.
What is the Scholarship Amount?
• The first-place winner from each state competes for national awards totaling $37,000.
What are the Scholarship Submission Requirements?
• Two-dimensional art must be on canvas or paper. Watercolor, pencil, pastel, charcoal, tempera, crayon, acrylic, pen, ink, oil, marker or other media taught may be used.
• Do not frame two-dimensional pieces.
• Submit canvas entries on a stretcher frame or canvas board. Reinforce the back with heavy paper. Mats, including mounted and floating mats, may be used.
• The art should be no smaller than 8” x 10” but no larger than 18” x 24”, INCLUDING mat.
• Complete entry form and attach to back of entry.
https://vfwauxiliary.org/wp-content/uploads/Young-American-Creative-Patriotic-Art-Contest-Scholarship-25-26.pdf
• Submit a typed explanation of patriotism expressed in art (250 words or less).
What are the Scholarship Contest Deadlines?
• March 31: Student Entry Deadline to VFW Auxiliary. *
• April 15: VFW Auxiliary winners due to Department (state)
Scholarships Chairman for judging. *
• May 5: VFW Auxiliary Department (state) Winners to VFW Auxiliary National Headquarters. *
* required deadlines
3-Dimensional Patriotic Art Contest:
Who is Eligible to Apply?
• Students in grades 9-12.
• Foreign exchange students, students age 20 or older, GED and adult education students are ineligible.
What is the Scholarship Amount?
• The first-place winner from each state competes for national awards totaling $5,500.
What are the Scholarship Submission Requirements?
• Three-dimensional art can be paper, papier-mâché, pottery, clay, metal work, fabric, etc.
• Pieces should be no larger than 18” in any direction.
• Art cannot be more than 5 lbs. in weight.
• Complete entry form and submit with entry.
https://vfwauxiliary.org/wp-content/uploads/3-Dimensional-Patriotic-Art-Contest-Scholarship-25-26.pdf
• Submit a typed explanation of steps taken to create three-dimensional art/artists statement (total of 250 words or less).
What are the Scholarship Contest Deadlines?
• March 31: Student Entry Deadline to VFW Auxiliary. *
• April 15: VFW Auxiliary winners due to Department (state) Scholarships Chairman for judging. *
• May 5: VFW Auxiliary Department (state) Winners to VFW Auxiliary National Headquarters. *
* required deadlines
Digital art, photography, weapons, 3-D printed art and jewelry are NOT ACCEPTED for either contest.
Illustrating America Art Contest
A patriotic art contest for elementary and middle/junior high school students that encourages students’ artistic abilities and rewards their hard work. It’s fun to see how our youth see the world through their drawings and paintings.
The contest consists of three grade divisions: K-2, 3-5 and 6-8.
There are National awards for first, second and third place in each grade division.
Contest Eligibility:
• Students do not have to be related to a VFW or VFW Auxiliary member to participate.
• Students in grades K-8
• Foreign exchange students, students aged 15 or older are not eligible.
• Previous winners of VFW Auxiliary National Illustrating America Art Contests are not eligible for the same grade division of which they are a previous national winner. However, the students may enter the subsequent grade division.
Contest Rules:
• Entry must be completed during the current school year.
• Entry must be two dimensional.
• Entry must be on canvas or paper.
• Canvas entries must be submitted on a stretcher frame or canvas board.
• Paper entries must be reinforced with heavy paper.
• Do not frame art with wood, metal, plastic or glass.
• Mats may be used, including mounted and floating mats.
• Entries may not be smaller than 8”x10” and not larger than 18”x24” including mat.
• Acrylic, chalk, crayon, ink, marker, pastel, pen, pencil, tempera, watercolor, glitter or other media may be used.
• If the American Flag is used, it does not need conform to the Federal Flag Code in relation to colors, numbers of stars and stripes and other pertinent rules of the code.
• Coloring sheets, digital art and photography are not accepted.
• Completed typed or printed legible entry form including parent and/or guardian signatures.
• Students’ name, age and grade level must be printed on back of art entry.
https://vfwauxiliary.org/wp-content/uploads/Illustrating-America-Art-Contest-25-26.pdf
Please Submit all entries by the required due dates to:
Strongsville VFW Post 3345
17900 Strongsville Blvd
Strongsville, Ohio 44149
Attn: Mary Lynn Church
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