By Jalen Maki

Tomahawk Leader Co-Editor

TOMAHAWK – Wurl-Feind-Ingman VFW Post 2687 and Auxiliary in Tomahawk is offering essay and art competitions open to local students.

Patriot’s Pen, an essay for grades 6 through 8 with monetary prizes for top essays at the local, district, state and national levels, must be between 300 and 400 typewritten words about the theme, “What Makes America Great.” $50 will be awarded for first place, $40 for second and $30 for third. The first-place essay will be forwarded to the district level, where it will have the opportunity to advance to the state and national levels.

Voice of Democracy is an essay contest for grades 9-12, featuring the same monetary prizes and opportunity for advancement to the district level and beyond as the Patriot’s Pen essay. The essay, also about the theme “What Makes America Great,” must be recorded on an audio CD or flash drive and be between three and five minutes in length.

Other rules for the essays, which are provided in brochures available at Tomahawk High School and the Tomahawk Public Library (for homeschooled students), must be adhered to. Three judges will review the essays to determine whether they comply with rules, and judge the essays within the scope of the rules based on content.

The deadline for submitting the essays is Thursday, Oct. 31. They will be picked up from their respective schools.

Patriotic Art Contest is an art contest for grades 9 through 12. Guidelines for the contest can be found in the brochures. Entries will be judged on the originality of concept, presentation and patriotism expressed; how it relates to patriotism and clarity of ideas; design technique; and total impact of work.

Judges for the art contest on all levels will be teachers, professionals, and persons knowledgeable about art. Comments of local and state judges will be attached and forwarded with the art.

A monetary prize will be awarded for the first-place entry, which will be submitted to the district level, where it will have the opportunity to advance to the state and national levels.

The deadline for the art contest is March 31, 2020.

Any questions or concerns about the essay or art contests should be directed to Mrs. Burcalow, Past Auxiliary President, at 715-453-7595. Please contact Mrs. Burcalow to submit your art entry.