​2026-2027 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.

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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.

Who 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. Young American Creative
Patriotic Art Info. Sheet and Entry Form
• 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

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3-Dimensional Patriotic Art Contest:

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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. 3-Dimensional Patriotic Art Info.
Sheet and Entry Form
• 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. *

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• 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.

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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 by March 31 deadline who are enrolled in a public, private,
parochial or home school program in the United States, its territories and
possessions, or dependents of U.S. military or civilian personnel in overseas
schools.
• Although U.S. citizenship is not required, students must be lawful U.S. permanent
residents or have applied for permanent resident (the application for which has not
been denied) and intends to become a U.S. citizen.
• 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.

Illustrating America Art Info and Entry Form

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Please Submit all entries by the required due dates to:

Strongsville VFW Post 3345 Auxiliary
17900 Strongsville Blvd
Strongsville, Ohio 44149
Attn: Mary Lynn Church

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