We are proud to present the top 13 National winners of the 2022–2023 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 2,500 students submitted entries and a total of $33,000 in national scholarships was awarded to 13 students in 2023.

Learn more about the contest and view all the previous first-place national winners.

First Place
$15,000 Scholarship

Pencil drawing of U.S. solider with American flag in the background.

Department of Virginia

Raising Future Leaders Through the Eyes of a Warrior

Medium: Pencil

Artist: Alice Barron

11th Grade | Homeschool

Sponsored by VFW Auxiliary 1503 | Dale City, Virginia

Second Place
$7,500 Scholarship

Painting using coffee of soldier with an American flag in the background.

Department of Missouri

My Brothers Honor

Medium: Coffee

Artist: Lilly Bone

12th Grade | Sikeston High School

Sponsored by VFW Auxiliary 3174 | Sikeston, Missouri

Third Place
$3,500 Scholarship

Acrylic painting of U.S. soldier with tears in his eyes, surrounded by historical scenes of American battles.

Department of Arizona

Victory

Medium: Acrylic

Artist: Sara Zheng

9th Grade | Gilbert Classical Academy

Sponsored by VFW Auxiliary 1433 |Glendale, Arizona

Fourth Place
$1,500 Scholarship

Acrylic painting of sad child sitting by a gravestone with an American flag planted nearby, holding a stuffed puppy.

Department of California

Solemn Loss

Medium: Acrylic

Artist: Geneva Dagnall

12th Grade | Hemet High School

Sponsored by VFW Auxiliary 2266 | San Jacinto, California

Fifth Place
$1,500 Scholarship

Acrylic painting of a young girl solemnly holding an American flag to her face with a U.S. soldier's uniform in the background.

Department of Georgia

William’s Girl

Medium: Acrylic

Artist: Sophia Sun

12th Grade | Johns Creek High School

Sponsored by VFW Auxiliary 9143 | Cumming, Georgia

Sixth Place
$1,000 Scholarship

Colored pencil drawing of a solider with an elderly man and woman to his right and left, with an American flag in the background.

Department of Florida

Duty, Loyalty and Honor

Medium: Colored Pencil

Artist: Kathia Fraticelli

12th Grade | Harrison School for the Arts

Sponsored by VFW Auxiliary 4289 | Winter Haven, Florida

Seventh Place
$1,000 Scholarship

Drawing/painting of a female athlete with a prosthetic leg running with an American flag in hand with a VFW race big attached to her top.

Department of Iowa

Powerful Patriotism

Medium: Pencil, Colored Pencil and Acrylic

Artist Elizabeth Jordan

12th Grade | Sioux City North High School

Sponsored by VFW Auxiliary 9127 | Des Moines, Iowa

Eighth Place
$500 Scholarship

Acrylic painting of a soldier kneeling by a gravestone holding a flower. A dog, an American flag, and a pair of soldier's boots are sitting at the foot of the grave. There are depictions of an eagle and other soldiers memorialized in the sky.

Department of Indiana

Look Up to Your Heroes

Medium: Acrylic

Artist: Shelia Hernández

12th Grade | Lawrence Central High School

Sponsored by VFW Auxiliary 261 | Lawrence, Indiana

Ninth Place
$500 Scholarship

Colored pencil drawing of a female soldier saluting, with the Bill of Rights in the background.

Department of Pennsylvania

The Power of One

Medium: Colored Pencil

Artist: Brooke Wise

12th Grade | Conneaut Area High School

Sponsored by VFW Auxiliary 7842 | Linesville, Pennsylvania

Tenth Place
$500 Scholarship

Pen drawing of female soldier hugging a woman.

Department of Massachusetts

Thank You

Medium: Pen

Artist: Marielle Barrios

12th Grade | Andover High School

Sponsored by VFW Auxiliary 8163 | Tewksbury, Massachusetts

Eleventh Place
$500 Scholarship

Acrylic painting of an elderly man with two young girls. He is holding a model military jet. One girl is holding an American flag, and the other is wearing his military uniform hat. There are jets in the sky flying in formation.

Department of Maryland

The Storyteller

Medium: Acrylic

Artist: Piper Stankiewicz

12th Grade | South Carroll High School

Sponsored by VFW Auxiliary 10076 | Mount Airy, Maryland

Twelfth Place
$500 Scholarship

Abstract oil painting of soldier holding an American flag, with the Statue of Liberty fading in and out of the painting.

Department of West Virginia

Life, Liberty, Prosperity

Medium: Oil Paint

Artist: Capri Harmen

12th Grade | Fairmont Senior High School

Sponsored by VFW Auxiliary 629 | Fairmont, West Virginia

Thirteenth Place
$500 Scholarship

Painting of U.S. Army serviceman holding a little boy on his shoulders with an American flag in his hands.

Department of Kansas

Welcome Home

Medium: Marker & Colored Pencil

Artist: Kady Toole

12th Grade | Washington County High School

Sponsored by VFW Auxiliary 7515 | Clyde, Kansas