CRYSTAL FALLS — VFW Auxiliary Tufts-Rondon Post 2891 has kicked off the VFW Auxiliary’s annual Young American Creative Patriotic Art Contest.

Local students in ninth through 12th grades have the opportunity to compete for $31,000 in national scholarships.

Students must submit an original two-or three-dimensional piece of art-work. Digital art, photography and jewelry are not accepted.

The entry must have been done during the 2019-2020 school year and the application must include a teacher or supervising adult’s signature.

Students begin by competing at the local VFW Auxiliary level. The first-place winner from each auxiliary advances to district competition if applicable, with district winners advancing to the state competition.

State first-place winners compete for their share of $31,000 in national awards, and the national first-place winner is awarded a $15,000 scholarship.

The national first-through eighth-place winners also are featured in VFW Auxiliary Magazine and on the VFW Auxiliary website. All state-winning entries will be displayed and judged at the VFW Auxiliary National Convention set to take place July 18-23, 2020, in Reno, Nevada.

The VFW Auxiliary started the Young American Creative Patriotic Art Contest in 1979 to recognize up-and-coming artists and encourage youth patriotism. About 4,000 students participate each year. In addition to $31,000 in national scholarships, local and state VFW Auxiliaries throughout the nation award more than $140,000 in Patriotic Art scholarships every year.

Student entries must be submitted to VFW Auxiliary Tufts-Rondon Post #2891 by March 31, 2020.

To download an application and see the 2019 winners, go to https://vfwauxiliary.org/scholarships.