TOWNSEND — The VFW Auxiliary to Townsend Post No. 6538 is sponsoring the “Illustrating America” Art Contest for students in both grades 3 through 5 and grades 6 through 8 in conjunction with the VFW Auxiliary Department of Massachusetts and the National VFW Auxiliary.
The VFW Auxiliary to Townsend Post No. 6538 will award $30 to its first place winner, $20 to its second place finisher, and $10 to its third place finalist in each grade level division.
The Townsend Auxiliary’s winning entry in each grade level division will be entered into the VFW Auxiliary Department of Massachusetts competition where $100 will be awarded to the first place winner and $50 will be given to the second place finisher in each grade level division.
The winning state entry in each grade level division will be advanced to the National Auxiliary competition where a $100 gift card will be awarded for first place, a $50 gift card for second place, and a $25 gift card for third place in each grade level division.
The Townsend Auxiliary’s Illustrating America Art Contest is open to students in grades 3 through 5 and in grades 6 through 8 who attend a public, private, or parochial school or are enrolled in a home school program.
Although U.S. citizenship is not required, students must be lawful U.S. permanent residents or have applied for permanent residence (the application of which has not been denied) and intend to become a U.S. citizen.
Foreign exchange students and students aged fifteen or older are not eligible.
There is no specific theme. Children are encouraged to show their own view of America.
The art must be two-dimensional. It must be on canvas or paper using watercolor, pencil, pastel, chalk, tempera, crayon, acrylic, pen, ink, glitter, marker, or other media.
The art should not be framed with wood, metal, plastic, or glass. Canvas entries should be submitted on a stretcher frame or canvas board, while other entries should be reinforced with heavy paper. Mats may be used including mounted or floating mats.
The art should be no smaller than 8 inches by 10 inches but no larger than 18 inches by 24 inches, not including the mat.
Coloring sheets, digital art, and photography will not be accepted.
The entry must have been done during the 2024-2025 school year and have a completed, typed or legibly printed official contest application form bearing information about the artist and the contact information and signature of his parent/guardian attached to the back of the entry.
Contest applications and information about the contest may be obtained from teachers or from Betty Mae Tenney of the VFW Auxiliary to Townsend Post No. 6538.
The student’s name, age, and grade level must be printed on the back of the art entry.
Each entry will be judged on patriotic theme and technique.
All local Illustrating America Art Contest entries must be submitted to VFW Auxiliary to Townsend Post No. 6538 President Betty Mae Tenney by Monday, March 31.
Anyone needing to make arrangements to submit a contest entry may contact Miss Tenney by calling her at 978-597-6495 or 978-665-4026.
-Townsend VFW Post No. 6538