We are proud to present the top 12 National winners of the 2023–2024 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 $37,000 in national scholarships was awarded to students in 2024.

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

First Place

$15,000 Scholarship
Department of Michigan
Sponsored by VFW Auxiliary 3925, Erie, MI
"Remembering Lucky 896X" by Ana Bruck
Remembering Lucky 896X
Ana Bruck, 10th Grade

Second Place

$7,500 Scholarship
Department of Alabama
Sponsored by VFW Auxiliary 6073, Scottsboro, AL
"Invictus" by Ariel Chen
Invictus
Ariel Chen, 11th Grade

Third Place

$3,500 Scholarship
Department of Indiana
Sponsored by VFW Auxiliary 3183, Batesville, IN
"A Spark" by Abigail Wuestefeld
A Spark
Abigail Wuestefeld, 12th Grade

Fourth Place

$1,500 Scholarship
Department of Tennessee
Sponsored by VFW Auxiliary 9851, Hendersonville, TN
"Heroes" by Samuel Preston Morgan
Heroes
Samuel Preston Morgan, 12th Grade

Fifth Place

$1,500 Scholarship
Department of North Carolina
Sponsored by VFW Auxiliary 1142, North Wilkesboro, NC
"War-Torn" by John Caleb Lewis
War-Torn
John Caleb Lewis, 12th Grade

Sixth Place

$1,000 Scholarship
Department of Maryland
Sponsored by VFW Auxiliary 7472, Ellicott City, MD
"The Echo of Valor" by Ellis Burke
The Echo of Valor
Eilis Burke, 12th Grade

Seventh Place

$1,000 Scholarship
Department of Utah
Sponsored by VFW Auxiliary 8307, Layton, UT
"Elwood Carlson" by Alli Eberhard
Elwood Carlson
Alli Eberhard, 12th Grade

Eighth Place

$500 Scholarship
Department of Ohio
Sponsored by VFW Auxiliary 2529, Sandusky, OH
"In Your Honor" by Savannah Schaffer
In Your Honor
Savannah Schaffer, 9th Grade

Ninth Place

$500 Scholarship
Department of Missouri
Sponsored by VFW Auxiliary 4207, Monett, MO
"Patriotism Through Generations" by Lauren Blackburn
Patriotism Through Generations
Lauren Blackburn, 12th Grade

Tenth Place

$500 Scholarship
Department of Washington
Sponsored by VFW Auxiliary 2995, Bellevue, WA
"Everlasting Memories" by Yuxi You
Everlasting Memories
Yuxi You, 12th Grade

Eleventh Place

$500 Scholarship
Department of Illinois
Sponsored by VFW Auxiliary 4999, Chillicothe, IL
"A Moment from Home" by Cora Strawn
A Moment from Home
Cora Strawn, 12th Grade

Twelfth Place

$500 Scholarship
Department of Connecticut
Sponsored by VFW Auxiliary 5446, Plainfield, CT
"War Photo Shoot" by Emma Cribby
War Photo Shoot
Emma Cribby, 10th Grade