The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 334 announced the beginning of the VFW Auxiliary’s annual Young American Creative Patriotic Art Contest last week. The contest comes with the opportunity for Local students in grades 9-12 have to compete for $31,500 in national scholarships.

To enter, students must submit an original two or three-dimensional piece of artwork. Digital art, photography and jewelry are not accepted. The entry must have completed during the current 2020-2021 school year and the application must include a teacher or supervising adult’s signature.

First, students will face off at the VFW Auxiliary level where the first-place winner from each Auxiliary will advance to the District competition. District winners will then go on the state competition where they will compete for their share of the $31,500 in scholarship. The first-place winner will receive a $15,000 scholarship.

National first through tenth place winners are featured in VFW Auxiliary Magazine and on the VFW Auxiliary website. All state winning entries will be held and displayed and judged at the VFW Auxiliary National Convention that will take place July 31 through August 5 in Baltimore, Maryland.

The Young American Creative Patriotic Art Contest was started by the VFW Auxiliary in 1979 to recognize up-and-coming artists and encourage patriotism in youth. VFW Auxiliaries throughout the nation award more than $150,000 in Patriotic Art scholarships every year.

Student entries must be submitted to VFW Auxiliary Post 334 by March 31. Students, parents and teachers who are interested should contact Kathy Hubbard at 248-830-6324 or email at specialk843@aol.com for more information.

To download an application and see the 2020 winners, visit www.vfwauxiliary.org/scholarships.

The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 334 announced the winners of the 2021 VFW fifth District Voice of Democracy, Patriots Pen and Teacher of the Year program.

In the Patriot’s Pen category, there were two hundred eighty-nine essays submitted for judging. In the Voice of Democracy category, there were six audio-essays submitted for judging. There were six entries submitted for the Teacher of the Year program.

The theme for the Patriot’s Pen category was “What is Patriotism to Me?” Student’s in grades six through eight are asked to submit their essay for a chance to win their share of more than $1.4 million in state and national awards.

This year’s winners include: seventh-grader at Oxford Middle School, Madolyne Winowski, who took home first place and $300. Second place went to Stephanie Haviarras, an eighth-grader from Van Hoosen Middle School. And third place went to Emerson Jehle, an eighth-grader from Van Hoosen Middle School.

The theme for the Voice of Democracy category was “Is This the Country the Founders Envisioned?” The audio-essay format for high school students allows contestants to express themselves in a unique way. The national first-place winner receives a $30,000 scholarship.

Michael Ginger from Kingsbury Country Day was named Teacher of the Year for the Middle School.

Each year, the VFW selects elementary, middle, and high school teachers to participate in the Smart/Maher VFW National Citizenship Education Teacher. Ginger also received a $200 award.

Winowski and Ginger now move forward to the Department Of Michigan VFW Voice of Democracy, Patriots Pen and Teacher of the Year ceremony on January 30. The ceremony will be held virtually due to COVID-19 restrictions.

VFW Post 334 President Kathy Hubbard and VFW Post 334 Commander Jim Hubbard presented 17 awards (a ribbon and monetary award) to the students are their homes on Dec. 3.

VFW District five will have 15 Patriot’s Pen entries, one Voice of Democracy entry and two Teacher of the Year entries.

— Megan Kelley