The VFW Auxiliary is sponsoring three contests for youth enrolled in a public, private, parochial or home study program or dependents of U.S. military or civilian personnel in overseas schools.
Illustrating America is an art contest for students in kindergarten through eighth grade.
Art must be two-dimensional and on canvas or paper and will be judged on patriotic theme and technique. Watercolor, pencil, pastel, charcoal, tempera, crayon, acrylic, pen, ink, oil, marker, glitter or other media may be used. Submit canvas entries on a stretcher frame or canvas board. Other entries must be matted in white or reinforced with heavy paper. The art should be no smaller than 8-by-10 inches but no larger than 18-by-24 inches, not including mat.
First place in K-2, 3-5 and 6-8 will receive a $100 gift card, second place in each age category will get a $50 gift card and third place will receive a $25 gift card.
Get Excited for the Red, White and Blue! is a national anthem singing contest open to students in kindergarten through 12th grade. A video of a solo vocal performance of “The Star-Spangled Banner” must be recorded. Contestants should state their name and age prior to their vocal performance, and they may sing a cappella with backing tracks or instruments and in the arrangement and genre of their choice.
The video must be saved to a flash drive or uploaded to an online video platform, like YouTube or Vimeo, and submitted with a completed entry form. Entries will be judged on vocal ability, mastery of lyrics, originality or interpretation and entertainment value.
For an entry form for the contests, download it online at vfwauxiliary.org/what-we-do/youth-activities or contact Barb Barger with the VFW Post 1925 Auxiliary in Seymour at [email protected] or 812-498-2686.
One winner from each VFW Auxiliary will advance to district judging for each contest. There also are opportunities to move on to state and national judging.
Young American Creative Patriotic Art Contest is a scholarship contest for grades 9 to 12 that recognizes up-and-coming artists and encourages patriotism in youth.
Two-dimensional art submissions must be on canvas or paper. Watercolor, pencil, pastel, charcoal, tempera, crayon, acrylic, pen, ink, oil, marker or other media may be used. Art must not be framed. 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 also may be used.
Art should be no smaller than 8-by-10 inches but no larger than 18-by-24 inches, not including mat.
Three-dimensional art submissions can be paper, papier mâché, pottery, metal work, fabric, wood, etc. Art should be no larger than 18 inches in any direction and no more than 5 pounds in weight.
Entries will be judged on the originality of concept, presentation and patriotism expressed; content of how it relates to patriotism and clarity of ideas; design technique; and total impact of work.
A completed contest application with a teacher or supervisory adult signature must be attached to the back of the entry, and a typed explanation 250 words or less must be attached.
The first-place winner from each state will compete for national awards totaling $33,000, ranging from $500 for seventh through 12th place to $15,000 for first place.
For an entry form, visit vfwauxiliary.org/scholarships.
Entries for all contests must be dropped off to Barger at the clerk-treasurer’s office at Seymour City Hall, 301-309 N. Chestnut St., by 4:30 p.m. March 31.