Art & Essay Contest - NNAM

Museum Masterpieces Art & Essay Contest

Naval Aviation Museum Foundation (NAMF) is excited to announce its third annual Museum Masterpieces Art and Essay Contest. 

The theme for this year’s contest is To The Rescue. This theme commemorates the 80th anniversary of the first mercy mission conducted by Naval and Coast Guard aviation’s first helicopter, the HNS-1 Hoverfly in 1944.

Naval, Marine, and Coast Guard Aviators conduct many humanitarian operations including rescuing people at sea, delivering emergency aid, and providing disaster relief for hurricanes, tornadoes, and earthquakes. All entries should communicate the theme, “To the Rescue.”

All public, private, and home school students in grades Kindergarten – 12 are encouraged to participate. The contest calls for entries of original artwork from students in grades K – 12 and essays from students in grades 6 – 12. The contest will be separated in judged in separate grade level groups.

The deadline for submissions is 11:59 PM on Monday, April 29, 2024. Entries will be collected in February, March, and April and winners will be awarded in May.

Contest Form

Rules & Requirements

  1. All content must be original and created by the contestant.
  2. All art must be created using only pencils, paints, charcoal, or markers. Three-dimensional art pieces, photography, and digital
    art are ineligible. Glitter is not permitted on any art pieces.
  3. Art must be 11” x 17” or smaller.
  4. Contestant Name, Title of Submission, Grade, and School must be printed legibly on back of art submissions and printed/typed at the top of essay submissions.
  5. All content submitted will not be returned.
  6. Entry form must be complete, printed legibly, and it must accompany the submission.
  7. Contestants in grades 6–12 can create one submission for each of the two categories: Art and Essay.
  8. Contestants cannot submit more than one piece of content for any one of the categories.

Judging & Deadlines

  1. Content will be separated and judged in the following grade-level groups: grades K–2 art, grades 3–5 art, grades 6 –8 art, grades 9–12 art, and grades 6–12 essay/poem.
  2. Content will be judged on originality and relevance to the theme.
  3. Deadline for submission is 11:59 pm April 29, 2024.
  4. Please submit art to our mailbox or our inbox (dhayden@navalaviationmuseum.org) by the deadline.
  5. Escambia and Santa Rosa County students have special drop-off location options (not required) listed on the entry form.
  6. Ribbons will be awarded to first, second, and third place winners in each category.
  7. First, second, and third-place winners’ submissions will be displayed at the National Naval Aviation Museum for Military Appreciation Month in May 2024. First-place winners’ submissions will be displayed in the National Naval Aviation Museum for 6 months. 
  8. First place winners in each category will receive $100 gift cards.

How to Submit Entries

Mail: 
Submit all content by mail to
Naval Aviation Museum Foundation
Attention: RESCUE
1750 Radford Blvd, Pensacola FL 32508

Inbox (Essays/Poems only, timestamp April 29):
Essays can be submitted as Word or PDF documents to dhayden@navalaviationmuseum.org Subject Line: RESCUE

Santa Rosa County Students
Students/Teachers can drop off submissions by April 29, 2024 to Pace High
School or Rhodes Elementary. Please submit in a package or envelope
marked, Attention: RESCUE ART/ESSAY CONTEST c/o K. Tracey @ Pace
High or A.Dill @ Rhodes Elementary.

Escambia County Students
Students/Teachers can drop off submissions by April 29, 2024 to the J.E.
Hall Center. Please submit in a package or envelope marked, Attention: RESCUE ART/ESSAY CONTEST c/o Angela Barberi

Contest Questions?

Please email Dianna Hayden at dhayden@navalaviationmuseum.org or 850-308-8935