Young American Creative Patriotic Scholarship
Scholarship Sponsored by Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary
Overview
Each year the VFW Auxiliary’s Young American Creative Patriotic Art Contest draws more than 4,000 high school artists from around the country. Launched in 1979, the program was created to spotlight emerging young artists and to promote patriotic expression among youth. This particular contest is for two-dimensional artwork only. (There is a separate 3-Dimensional Patriotic Art Contest for three-dimensional work; current national/state winners for that contest are available from the VFW Auxiliary.)
Eligibility
- Students must be in grades 9–12 as of the March 31 entry deadline. Eligible students include those enrolled in public, private or parochial high schools, or participating in a home study program in the United States, its territories or possessions. Dependents of U.S. military or civilian personnel attending schools overseas are also eligible.
- U.S. citizenship is not required. Noncitizen students must be permanent residents or have a pending application for permanent residency (an application that has not been denied).
- Ineligible contestants include foreign exchange students, students who are 20 years of age or older, GED or adult education students, and prior national first-place winners of the Young American Creative Patriotic Art Contest.
Awards
- First-place winners from each state advance to compete for national awards. National awards total $37,000.
Submission Requirements for Two-Dimensional Entries
- Two-dimensional work only; acceptable surfaces include canvas or paper.
- Permitted media: watercolor, pencil, pastel, charcoal, tempera, crayon, acrylic, pen, ink, oil, marker, or other media taught in art instruction.
- Do not submit framed pieces.
- Canvas works should be on a stretcher frame or canvas board; reinforce the back with heavy paper.
- Mats are allowed, including mounted and floating mats.
- Size limits (including mat): minimum 8 x 10 inches; maximum 18 x 24 inches.
- Complete the official entry form and attach it to the back of the artwork.
- Include a typed artist statement (250 words or fewer) explaining how the piece expresses patriotism.
Deadlines
- March 31: Student entry deadline to the VFW Auxiliary.
- April 15: VFW Auxiliary winners must be submitted to the Department (state) Scholarships Chairman for judging.
- May 5: Department (state) winners must be sent to VFW Auxiliary National Headquarters.
Notes
- This contest is strictly for two-dimensional pieces; three-dimensional works should be entered in the separate 3-Dimensional Patriotic Art Contest. Current winners and past national first-place winners for the Young American Creative Patriotic Art Contest are available from the VFW Auxiliary.