The George Dokken VFW Auxiliary #2118 of Brookings sponsored the Illustrating America Youth contest again this year. The Youth Program explores areas of history, national monuments and projects that leads them to understand what America means to them.
The Illustrating America competition includes kindergarden through eighth grade.
Students are encouraged to use their artistic talents to depict what America means to them. Their artwork ranges from incorporating football as a national pasttime to drawing the Statue of Liberty and beyond. The students interpretation of Americanism comes through their artistic rendition of their chosen artwork.
The schools are given the information about the competition, the requirements and the deadline for entry. Each school is given is given multiple packets with the information concerning the contest and the information needed to contact the VFW Youth Chairman. The youth chairman, Jan Olson, is always available to answer questions or concerns of students, parents or teachers.
This years winners for the kindergarden through second grade division were both from Our Saviors Lutheran Church. First-place winner was Ezra Snow and Elijah Bruns received second place.
The second division is grades 35 and both first- and second-place winners were from Camelot Intermediate. Taking first place was Ashley Coates and second place winner was Shiloh Butzen.
The last division is the sixth through eighth graders. Mickelson Middle School winners were Timothy Jin, first place, and second place winner was Leah Hansen.
The judges evaluate the artwork by the same criteria for all three divisions. This year there were 21 entries between the three categories. The judges for this years competition were Janet Brubakken, Renae Buchheim and Lois Ladegaard .
Following the judging, Jan Olson went to each of the schools to present the winners with their $25 and $15 award for the first division.
The third through fifth grade winners received $35 and $25 respectively. The third group winners received $45 and $35 for their first- or second-place entries.
The local first-place entries were sent on to department level competition. That artwork will be judged during the Department Convention at Pierre in June.
Leave a Reply