HSHS Visual Arts

She did it! Melissa Napoli ‘27 won the NJ State competition with her color pencil drawing, symbolizing her theme of patriotic feminism.

Although the competition was very close, the judges found Melissa’s artwork was the best entry in the State of New Jersey. In June, Melissa will receive her NJ State award at the VFW/VFW Auxiliary State Convention being held in Wildwood, NJ.
Melissa’s artwork is currently on its way to represent the State of New Jersey in the national competition.

Last week, Ms. Milano congratulated freshman Art 1 student and spARTan Art Club member, Melissa Napoli ‘27, on winning at the Absecon level of the VFW Auxiliary’s Young American Creative Patriotic Art national scholarship contest. After winning at the Absecon level, her artwork was entered in the state competition, where judging took place at a performing art center in North Jersey.

We wish Melissa the best of luck at the national level where she will compete against the other 49 States for a $15,000.00 scholarship. Entries are judged on originality of concept, presentation and patriotism expressed, content of how it relates to patriotism and clarity of ideas, design technique, total impact of work.

VFW Auxiliary National Scholarships
First place - $15,000
Second place - $7,500
Third place - $3,500
Fourth and Fifth place - $1,500
Sixth and Seventh place - $1,000
Eighth thorough Nineteenth place - $500
First- through 12th-place winners are displayed at the National Convention.

In May, Ms. Milano’s HSHS Visual Arts students, as well as students from her spARTan Art Club, exhibited work at the Atlantic County Teen Arts Festival. Congratulations to Jack Burns whose watercolor, Juice, won a NJ State nomination. Jack’s painting will be exhibited at the NJ State Teen Arts Festival in June.

Congratulations to Melissa Napoli '27, an Art 1 freshman in Ms. Milano's HSHS Visual Arts class and a member of spARTan Art Club. Melissa's color pencil drawing, symbolizing patriotic feminism, was chosen as the winner of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary Young American Creative Patriotic Art Contest at the Absecon Post Level. The contest judges found Melissa's "artwork and theme exemplary." Her artwork has also been submitted to the VFW Auxiliary Department of NJ to compete May 5 on the state level for a chance to go to the national level in the summer months. We wish Melissa well at the next level of competition.

The VFW Auxiliary’s Young American Creative Patriotic Art national scholarship contest began in 1979 to assist students who wish to further their education, recognize up-and-coming artists and encourage patriotism in youth. Entries are judged on originality of concept, presentation and patriotism expressed, content of how it relates to patriotism and clarity of ideas, design technique, total impact of work. The first-place winner from each state competes for national awards totaling $37,000. First- through 12th-place winners are displayed at the National Convention.