NATIONAL PATRIOTIC ART CONTEST WINNERS ANNOUNCED 
Michigan High School Student Wins First Place
Kansas City, Mo. – July 21, 2020 – Allison Mroczek won first place in the Young American Creative Patriotic Art Contest, winning a $15,000 college scholarship. The contest, sponsored annually by the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Auxiliary, recognizes up-and-coming artists and encourages patriotism in youth. A total of $31,000 in scholarships was awarded to nine finalists, all students in grades 9-12.
Mroczek, of Decatur, Mich. attends Decatur Jr.-Sr. High School. She was sponsored by VFW Auxiliary 6248, Decatur. Her art illustrates a woman’s struggle with loss and post-traumatic stress. “The soldier kneels down to see her reflection in the water puddle and horrific flashbacks from Iraq instantly hit her. While in the U.S. Marines, she trained a military working dog that she became attached to. The reflection in the puddle conveys a difficult time when a bomb exploded in the distance. Fortunately, the soldier made it out in time. However, her K-9 companion didn’t make it out alive. Her golden retriever is portrayed in a sad manner, because the soldier feels incapable of opening up to another animal, fearing it will leave her heartbroken once again. The woman grips a dog collar in her hand that once belonged to her K-9.
I drew the top in pencil to convey how experiencing PTS can make life seem colorless and dull. The battlefield remains in color to show how impactful, recent and monumental that horrendous day appears in the soldier’s eyes.”
A total of 46 entries were judged at VFW Auxiliary National Headquarters in Kansas City. The 2020 national winners are: 1st place – Allison Mroczek, Mich.; 2nd place – Zadie Shea LaValley, Okla.; 3rd place – Andrew J. Kim, N.J.; 4th place – Alannah Twede, Ore.; 5th place – Larky White, Nev.; 6th Place – Faith Erin Jones, Va.; 7th Place – Amanda Wong, Ariz.; 8th place – Sarah Whitehouse, Ill.; 9th Place – Cassie Jankowski, Ark.
Visit https://vfwauxiliary.org/scholarships/young-american-creative-patriotic-art-contest to see the winners and learn how high school students can participate in the 2020-2021 contest.
About the VFW Auxiliary: Established 1914, members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States Auxiliary set out to serve the veterans of this country and our communities in honor of the sacrifices and commitment of every man and woman who has served in uniform. The VFW Auxiliary is one of the nation’s oldest veterans’ service organizations and our members are the relatives of those who have served in overseas combat. We have nearly 470,000 members representing all 50 states, the District of Columbia and several foreign-based Auxiliaries who volunteer millions of hours and give millions of dollars to support veterans, military service personnel, and their families.
We are a voice for veterans on Capitol Hill and are instrumental in assisting the VFW pass or block legislation that impacts veterans and their families. We are one of the top ten 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. We also provide hundreds of thousands of dollars in scholarships for our nation’s youth. With more than 3,700 Auxiliaries, there is likely one in your area working to improve the lives of America’s uncommon heroes. Learn more at www.vfwauxiliary.org.