Niobrara County High School art students were given the opportunity to compete in the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Auxiliary Young American Creative Patriotic Art Contest.

This year, Mrs. Roxanne Fish’s art class (grades 9-12) had 17 students who submitted their artwork. According to Lusk VFW Auxiliary #3511 president Amber Smith, NCHS art students have been submitting their artwork for years.

“Year after year, Mrs. Fish has been dedicated to having her students participate in Patriotic Art. Our county and our VFW Auxiliary are blessed to have her as the art teacher,” Smith told the Herald.

Each year, more than 4,000 high school students from across the country participate in the VFW Auxiliary’s Young American Creative Patriotic Art Contest. The contest began in 1979 to recognize up-and-coming artists and encourage patriotism among youth. The contest has two categories: two-dimensional entries and three-dimensional art pieces. The first-place winner from each state competes for national awards totaling $37,000.

This year’s winners in two-dimensional art are Haven Hendricks, Sidney Southwick in second place and Adam Bradfield in third place. First place three-dimensional winners are Kyra Willey and second place Taci Bartschi. Willey’s art was selected to advance on to Nationals after winning first place at the Department level.

“It is important for our youth to express what patriotism means to them on an individual level. Patriotism will vary from person to person, but at the same time, I can develop a sense of unity. Having my students participate in the contest creates an opportunity for them to communicate their feelings of respect, courage, loyalty and pride in our country,” Fish said of her art students.

Of Fish, Smith said, “She is doing amazing things with her students. We were honored to present Mrs. Fish and our top Auxiliary winners with certificates and scholarships on April 17 at the Fine Arts show at the high school.”