We are proud to present the Department (state) winners of the 2019-2020 VFW Auxiliary’s Young American Creative Patriotic Art Contest.
The annual contest began in 1979 and recognizes up-and-coming artists and encourages patriotism in youth. More than 4,000 students submitted entries and a total of $31,000 in national scholarships was awarded to nine students in 2020.
Learn more about the contest and view all the previous first-place national winners.
Department of Michigan
Allison Mroczek
11th Grade
Decatur Jr.-Sr. High School
“Untitled”
Media: Graphite and Colored Pencil
Sponsored by VFW Auxiliary 6248
Decatur, Michigan
Department of Oklahoma
Zadie Shea LaValley
12th Grade
Carl Albert High School
“Ultimate Sacrifice”
Media: Ink
Sponsored by VFW Auxiliary 1317
Shawnee, Oklahoma
Department of New Jersey
Andrew J. Kim
10th Grade
Montclair Kimberley Academy
“Heroes Then, Heroes Now”
Media: Watercolor
Sponsored by VFW Auxiliary 2290
Manville, New Jersey
Department of Oregon
Alannah Twede
10th Grade
Oregon City High School
“Untitled”
Media: Oil Paint and Acrylic
Sponsored by VFW Auxiliary 1324
Oregon City, Oregon
Department of Nevada
Larky White
11th Grade
Pahrump Valley High School
“Untitled”
Media: Acrylic, Airbrush and Colored Pencil
Sponsored by VFW Auxiliary 10054
Pahrump, Nevada
Department of Virginia
Faith Erin Jones
11th Grade
Broadway High School
“Untitled”
Media: Oil Paint
Sponsored by VFW Auxiliary 9660
Broadway, Virginia
Department of Arizona
Amanda Wong
11th Grade
Hamilton High School
“A Return Home”
Media: Colored Pencil
Sponsored by VFW Auxiliary 9399
Apache Junction, Arizona
Department of Illinois
Sarah Whitehouse
10th Grade
Blue Ridge High School
“Sacrifice”
Media: Acrylic
Sponsored by VFW Auxiliary 6190
Farmer City, Illinois
Department of Arkansas
Cassie Jankowski
11th Grade
Home Schooled
“Eyes of the Forgotten”
Media: Pen
Sponsored by VFW Auxiliary 1341
Bull Shoals, Arkansas
Department of Alabama
Giancarlo Ventura Bravo
12th Grade
Foley High School
“Survival”
Media: Colored Pencil, Oil Paint and Pen
Sponsored by VFW Auxiliary 5658
Eleberta, Alabama
Department of Alaska
Maria Louise Simpson
10th Grade
PACE & Eagle River High School
“Untitled”
Media: Watercolor
Sponsored by VFW Auxiliary 9785
Eagle River, Alaska
Department of California
Graciela Tijerina-Cruz
11th Grade
Coachella Valley High School
“Our Freedom”
Media: Pencil and Colored Pencil
Sponsored by VFW Auxiliary 3699
Indio, California
Department of Colorado
Alexis Mondragon
12th Grade
Antonito High School
“Not Forgotten”
Media: Graphite
Sponsored by VFW Auxiliary 4849
Antonito, Colorado
Department of Connecticut
Hannah O. Smith
12th Grade
Putnam High School
“Untitled”
Media: Arcylic
Sponsored by VFW Auxiliary 1523
Putnam, Connecticut
Department of Delaware
Marcy Elise Scheerer Winston
10th Grade
Winston Learning Academy
“Untitled”
Media: Nails, Embroidery Floss, Wood and Acrylic
Sponsored by VFW Auxiliary 7478
Greenwood, Delaware
Department of Florida
Mia Hereford
12th Grade
Manatee School for the Arts
“Brotherhood”
Media: Acrylic
Sponsored by VFW Auxiliary 9226
Ellenton, Florida
Department of Georgia
Julia Sullivan
10th Grade
Berrien High School
“Silent, but Loud Salute”
Media: Permanent Marker, Pencil and Ebony
Sponsored by VFW Auxiliary 4830
Moultrie, Georgia
Department of Idaho
Mackenzie Dimond
12th Grade
Valley High School
“United We Stand”
Media: Colored Pencil, Pen and Glitter
Sponsored by VFW Auxiliary 3001
Jerome, Idaho
Department of Indiana
Logan Mercui
11th Grade
Roncall High School
“Picture Perfect”
Media: Oil Paint and Ink
Sponsored by VFW Auxiliary 5864
Greenwood, Indiana
Department of Iowa
Abby Lefeber
11th Grade
Harlan Community High School
“Untitled”
Media: Pencil and Colored Pencil
Sponsored by VFW Auxiliary 941
Harlan, Iowa
Department of Kansas
Veronica Bieker
11th Grade
Ellis High School
“Heart of the Brave”
Media: Charcoal
Sponsored by VFW Auxiliary 9139
Ellis, Kansas
Department of Kentucky
Lilly M. Mooney
12th Grade
Mooney’s Homeschool
“Untitled”
Media: Watercolor
Sponsored by VFW Auxiliary 5710
Shepherdsville, Kentucky
Department of Louisiana
Abigail Miller
12th Grade
Eunice High School
“The Power of Red Ink”
Media: Acrylic
Sponsored by VFW Auxiliary 8971
Eunice, Louisiana
Department of Maryland
Sophie Burns
12th Grade
Bohemia Manor High School
“Sacrifices”
Media: Watercolor
Sponsored by VFW Auxiliary 7687
Chesapeake City, Maryland
Department of Massachusetts
Quinn Sullivan
12th Grade
Bishop Stang High School
“Untitled”
Media: Pencil
Sponsored by VFW Auxiliary 9059
North Dartmouth, Massachusetts
Department of Minnesota
Molly Swanz
12th Grade
New York Mills High School
“Safe in His Arms”
Media: Colored Pencil
Sponsored by VFW Auxiliary 3289
New York Mills, Minnesota
Department of Mississippi
Lorna Brooke Smith
10th Grade
Home Schooled
“America’s Symbols”
Media: Pencil
Sponsored by VFW Auxiliary 12124
Meridian, Mississippi
Department of Missouri
Titania Niedner
12th Grade
Louisiana High School
“Grandpa”
Media: Charcoal
Sponsored by VFW Auxiliary 2866
St. Charles, Missouri
Department of Montana
Bethany Barnes
11th Grade
Whitefish High School
“Four-Legged Hero”
Media: Colored Pencil
Sponsored by VFW Auxiliary 276
Whitefish, Montana
Department of Nebraska
Alexander Prince
12th Grade
Plattsmouth High School
“Sacrifice”
Media: Charcoal
Sponsored by VFW Auxiliary 8334
Omaha, Nebraska
Department of New Hampshire
Sophie Craven
12th Grade
Keene High School
“Old Glory on the Horizon”
Media: Acrylic
Sponsored by VFW Auxiliary 799
Keene, New Hampshire
Department of New Mexico
Julie Lovato
11th Grade
Piedre Vista High School
“Untitled”
Media: Acrylic and White Gel Pen
Sponsored by VFW Auxiliary 614
Aztec, New Mexico
Department of New York
Christopher Trejo
12th Grade
Gouverneur Central School
“Untitled”
Media: Pencil
Sponsored by VFW Auxiliary 6338
Gouverneur, New York
Department of North Carolina
Delia Chavez
11th Grade
Surry Central High School
“Semper Fi”
Media: Acrylic
Sponsored by VFW Auxiliary 7794
Elkin, North Carolina
Department of North Dakota
Korri Dragt
12th Grade
West Fargo High School
“One Day at a Time”
Media: Colored Pencil and Acrylic
Sponsored by VFW Auxiliary 7564
West Fargo, North Dakota
Department of Ohio
Cameron Lowery
12th Grade
Ridgemont Local Schools
“Window in Time”
Media: Acrylic
Sponsored by VFW Auxiliary 6817
Mt. Victory, Ohio
Department of Pennsylvania
Nora E. Logue
11th Grade
Hickory High School
“Untitled”
Media: Charcoal
Sponsored by VFW Auxiliary 6166
Hermitage, Pennsylvania
Department of South Carolina
Justin T. Farmer, Jr.
11th Grade
Irmo High School
“On The Battlefield”
Media: Pencil
Sponsored by VFW Auxiliary 4262
Columbia, South Carolina
Department of South Dakota
Jase Jarding
12th Grade
Stevens High School
“American Protector”
Media: Graphite Pencil
Sponsored by VFW Auxiliary 1273
Rapid City, South Dakota
Department of Tennessee
Kathryn Minchew
11th Grade
Station Camp High School
“Putting on My Bootstraps”
Media: Colored Pencil, Watercolor and Paint
Sponsored by VFW Auxiliary 9851
Hendersonville, Tennessee
Department of Texas
Zoe Puno
10th Grade
Obra D. Thompkins High School
“An Embrace from Heaven”
Media: Colored Pencil
Sponsored by VFW Auxiliary 9182
Katy, Texas
Department of Utah
Emily Ann Pace
12th Grade
Viewmont High School
“Ancestry That Served With Honor”
Media: Graphite, Ink and Watercolor
Sponsored by VFW Auxiliary 8307
Layton, Utah
Department of Vermont
Slone Pirie
12th Grade
Burr and Burton Academy
“Home of the Brave”
Media: Charcoal
Sponsored by VFW Auxiliary 6471
Manchester Center, Vermont
Department of Washington
Alexis Attebery
12th Grade
Tacoma School of the Arts
“Honor”
Media: Watercolor, Paint Pen and Pen
Sponsored by VFW Auxiliary 10018
Tacoma, Washington
Department of West Virginia
Bryn Ward
9th Grade
Washington High School
“Poppy”
Media: Colored Pencil, Graphite and Watercolor
Sponsored by VFW Auxiliary 3522
Charles Town, West Virginia
Department of Wisconsin
Patience Ann Theune
11th Grade
Oostburg High School
“Untitled”
Media: Pencil
Sponsored by VFW Auxiliary 9156
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
Department of Wyoming
Ashley Johnson
12th Grade
Cody High School
“Untitled”
Media: Charcoal and Colored Pencil
Sponsored by VFW Auxiliary 2673
Cody, Wyoming
