The third annual Thank a Teacher Art Contest is now open!

From Jan. 2 – Jan. 31, K-12 public school students can enter their original artwork online for a chance to win a $150 gift card and money for the art department at their schools. One winner will be selected from each of the three levels: elementary school, middle school and high school. The winning designs will be featured on thousands of thank-you notes being distributed across Virginia during National Teacher Appreciation Week 2020.

Last year, three student artists were selected as winners: Liza Godlevskaia, a fifth-grade student at Aldrin Elementary School in Fairfax; Kaycie Colton, a seventh-grade student at Princess Anne Middle School in Virginia Beach; and Alyssa Heath, a 12th-grade student at Virginia High School in Bristol. Their artwork was shared on more than 50,000 thank-you notes as part of the 2019 Thank a Teacher campaign.

Thank a Teacher

The Thank a Teacher Art Contest is the yearly kickoff to the statewide Thank a Teacher campaign sponsored by the Virginia Lottery in partnership with the Virginia PTA. In its first two years, the art contest received nearly 2,000 entries from student artists across the commonwealth. To date, Virginians have distributed more than 100,000 thank-you notes to their favorite teachers.

Thank a Teacher Art Contest

The Thank a Teacher Art Contest kicked off in 2018 with the goal of finding original artwork to adorn thank-you notes for Teacher Appreciation Week. In its first year, the art contest received nearly 1,000 entries from talented students across Virginia. Three winners were selected; they came from Newport News, Richmond and Prince William County. For the contest’s third year, the Virginia Lottery is excited to partner with The Supply Room, which is a Virginia-based company, to double the prize for each winner’s school. This year, each winner will receive a $150 gift card and $2,000 for their school’s art department; of course, each winner’s artwork will be featured on thousands of thank-you notes too!

How to enter

Do you know a talented student artist? Here’s how to participate! Visit thankateacherva.com for entry requirements and submission guidelines. Entries must be original artwork by a student enrolled at a K-12 public school in Virginia. In need of inspiration? Here is a sampling of the top artwork from the past two years. All you need is paper, pencil and an idea to get started. Submit your artwork by NOON on Jan. 31. Winners will be notified by surprise presentation in March!

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