Lansing VFW Auxiliary sponsoring local level of contests for youth

Grades K-8 Illustrating America Art Contest

VFW Auxiliary Gustave F. Kerndt #5981 is announcing the VFW Auxiliary’s annual Illustrating America Art Contest. Local students in grades K-8 can share how they view the world through their drawings and paintings while competing for national awards. Students must submit an original two-dimensional piece of artwork.  Coloring sheets, digital art and photography are not accepted.  The entry must have been completed during the current school year and the application must include a signature of a parent or guardian. Students begin by competing at the local VFW Auxiliary level. The first-place winner from each Auxiliary advances to the Department of Iowa competition. The contest consists of three grade divisions: K-2, 3-5 and 6-8. The Department of Iowa first-place winner in each grade division will be forwarded to the VFW Auxiliary National Headquarters. There are awards for first, second and third place in each grade division. All state winning entries are judged at National Headquarters in Kansas City, MO in July and will be displayed at the VFW Auxiliary National Convention scheduled to take place August 2023. Winners will be notified via the email address provided on the winners’ entry form. The contest rewards the artistic abilities of elementary and middle/junior high school students. Local student entries must be submitted to VFW Auxiliary Gustave F. Kerndt #5981 by March 31, 2023. Interested youth, parents/guardians and teachers should email vfwauxiliarylansing@gmail.com for more information. Visit http://www.vfwauxiliary.org/what-we-do/youth-activities for eligibility requirements, contest rules and an entry form. The VFW Auxiliary is one of the nation’s oldest veterans’ service organizations and its members are the relatives of those who served in a location of foreign conflict. With more than 3,600 Auxiliaries, there is likely one in the local area working to improve the lives of America’s uncommon heroes. Learn more about the VFW Auxiliary at www.vfwauxiliary.org.

National Anthem Singing Contest

Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Auxiliary Gustave F. Kerndt #5981 is nearing the entry deadline for the VFW Auxiliary’s National Anthem Singing Contest, “Get Excited for the Red, White and Blue!” Local youth in grades Kindergarten through 12th grade can showcase their talent, display their patriotism and express their creativity while competing for their share of $2,000 in national awards. Contestants must submit a video of their solo vocal performance of “The Star-Spangled Banner.”  Video must be uploaded to YouTube and submitted to VFW Auxiliary #5981 along with a completed entry form for judging. The video must be recorded between July 1, 2022 and March 31 of this year. Entry will be judged on vocal ability, mastery of lyrics, originality or interpretation and entertainment value. Contestants may sing “The Star-Spangled Banner” in the arrangement and genre of their choice: rock, pop, reggae, R&B, hip-hop, country, classical and other genres are accepted. All genres, instruments and backing tracks are welcome for this solo vocal performance contest of “The Star-Spangled Banner.”  However, the words of the song can not be changed. Contestants begin by competing at the local VFW Auxiliary level. The first-place winner from each Auxiliary advances to the Department of Iowa competition. The contest consists of two grade divisions: K-8 and 9-12. The Department of Iowa first-place winner in each grade division will be forwarded to Auxiliary National Headquarters. There is one National winner in each grade division, with awards for first, second and third place in each grade division. Winners will be notified in July 2023 via the email address provided on the winner’s entry form. The contest is designed to promote patriotism and encourage youth to learn the words to “The Star-Spangled Banner” while displaying their creativity and vocal talent. Contestant entries must be submitted to Lansing VFW Auxiliary Gustave F. Kerndt #5981 by March 31, 2023. Interested youth, parents/guardians and teachers should email vfwauxiliarylansing@gmail.com for more information. Visit http://www.vfwauxiliary.org/what-we-do/youth-activities for eligibility requirements, contest rules and an entry form. The VFW Auxiliary is one of the nation’s oldest veterans’ service organizations and its members are the relatives of those who served in a location of foreign conflict. VFW Auxiliary has nearly 470,000 members representing all 50 states who volunteer millions of hours and give millions of dollars to support veterans, military service personnel and their families. VFW Auxiliary is a voice for veterans on Capitol Hill and is instrumental in assisting the VFW in passing or blocking legislation that impacts veterans and their families. The organization is one of the top 10 providers of volunteer hours in the VA medical system. Every year, members fund raise millions of dollars for charitable projects that benefit veterans and their families. VFW Auxiliary also provides hundreds of thousands of dollars in scholarships for the nation’s youth. Learn more about the VFW Auxiliary and all it has to offer at www.vfwauxiliary.org.

Young American Creative Patriotic Art Contest and 3-Dimensional Patriotic Art Scholarship Contest

There is still time to enter the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Auxiliary’s Annual Young American Creative Patriotic Art Contest and, new this year, the VFW Auxiliary 3-Dimensional Patriotic Art Scholarship Contest. Local students in grades 9-12 can compete for National Scholarships, beginning with the local level through VFW Auxiliary Gustave F. Kerndt Post #5981, with entries due by March 31 For the Annual Young American Creative Patriotic Art Contest, students must submit an original two-dimensional piece of artwork they’ve created. For the new year 3-Dimensional Patriotic Art Scholarship Contest this year, students must submit an original three-dimensional piece of artwork, such as paper, paper-mâché, pottery, clay, metal work, fabric, etc. Digital art, photography, and jewelry are not accepted for either contest. The entries must have been completed during the current school year and the entry form must include a parent or guardian’s signature. Students begin by competing at the local VFW Auxiliary level. The first-place winner from each Auxiliary advances to the Department (State) competition. Department (State) first-place winners compete for national awards, $4,000 in the 3-Dimensional Patriotic Art Scholarship Contest that includes a $2,500 scholarship for the national first-place winner, or $34,000 in national awards in the Young American Creative Patriotic Art Contest that includes a $15,000 scholarship for the national first-place winner. Top National place winners will be featured in VFW Auxiliary Magazine and on the national VFW Auxiliary website. All State winning entries are judged at National Headquarters in Kansas City, MO in July and will be displayed at the VFW Auxiliary National Convention scheduled to take place July 22-27 of this year in Phoenix, AZ. The VFW Auxiliary started the 3-Dimensional American Patriotic Art Contest this year and started the Young American Creative Patriotic Art Contest in 1979 to recognize up-and-coming artists and encourage patriotism in youth. Approximately 4,000 students have participated each year in the Young American Creative Patriotic Art Contest, and in addition to $34,000 in national scholarships, local and state VFW Auxiliaries throughout the nation award more than $150,000 in Patriotic Art scholarships every year. Student entries must be submitted to VFW Auxiliary Gustave F. Kerndt Post #5981 by March 31. Interested students, parents and teachers should contact local VFW President Barbara Fore at vfwauxiliarylansing@gmail.com for more information. Download an entry form for either contest at https://vfwauxiliary.org/scholarships.