Douglas student gets first in Veterans of Foreign Wars state patriotic art contest

The regional first-place winner of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Young American Creative Patriotic Art Contest, a Douglas High School senior, has won at state and now will go on to national competition.

"Niles Crow, our first-place winner, has won state and is going national," said Jacqui Mobley of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post & Auxiliary Topaz No. 3630.

Crow has the chance of winning a $10,000, $5,000 or $2,500 scholarship if his art wins first, second or third, respectively, in national competition. If he took first place he would receive a paid trip to Washington, D.C. Additionally, his artwork would be featured on the cover of the Ladies Auxiliary VFW Magazine and on the Auxiliary Web site.

In regional competition, Niles was the first-place winner, second place was Alex Negrete and third was Kevin Roberts. Niles received $200, Alexandria received $150 and Kevin received $100, plus certificates, donated from the Post & Auxiliary.

Niles will receive a monetary reward for his first place in state at the June VFW convention, according to Mobley.

Mobley said competition was tough during the Young American Creative Patriotic Art Contest at Douglas High School this year.

"We had 12 beautiful pictures for our judges to judge from," said Mobley. "They all were very good. As far as we're concerned, all of them were winners, but (the judges) had to choose the top three."

The judges were Pam Brekas, Martha O'Neill and Marge Buttles.

"We hope we will have more high school students participate in this program next year," said Mobley. "This contest is also open to home-schooled students. The picture must be patriotic."

She added that digital art may be used, but must be on paper or canvas. No discs will be accepted and all images need to be original.

For more information, call Jacqui Mobley at 266-3636 or write her at: 1165 Slate Road, Wellington, NV 89444.