YAM Flag & Graphic Design
Deadline:
December 13
The Youth Art Month (YAM) Flag contest is both a state and national contest while the graphic contest is a statewide contest. At the state level, an overall winner is chosen from grades k-12 for the flag and the graphic contest. Their artwork is made into a flag or posters to represent Ohio. The YAM flag goes onto be displayed at the National art Education conference. The graphic design is used to promote and celebrate Youth Art Month in Ohio.
The winning students are honored in Columbus on a special day in March at a wonderful ceremony, that also includes the Youth Art Month Art Exhibition (YAM) and Young Peoples’ Art Exhibition (YPAE) on the same day.
The students can also win at their grade level group. The groups are grades k-2, 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12. There is a 1st, 2nd, and third place winner in each group and two honorable mentions awarded. See contest rules on form. These students are also honored on that special day in March. It’s a great time to celebrate your student’s accomplishments.
Becky Dunn & Amy Cholkas
YAM Flag Co-Chairs
Questions? Contact yamflag@ohioarted.com
2027 Contest Theme: My Community, My Story
This two-category event to celebrate YOUTH ART MONTH 2027 is sponsored by the Ohio Art Education Association and is open to students of all current OAEA members who teach grades K-12. ENTRIES MUST BE SUBMITTED ON THE OFFICIAL 2027 OHIO YAM FLAG/ GRAPHIC ENTRY FORM. (Reproduce forms as necessary) Entries become the property of OAEA and must be submitted digitally on the OAEA website by December 13, 2026. Vertical designs work best as a flag, but YAM Flag or Graphic designs may be vertical or horizontal.
Rules for Entry
1. The contest is limited to K-12 students of current Ohio Art Education Association (OAEA) members only. Non-member entries will be disqualified.
2. Only one flag design and one graphic design entry, per OAEA member, per school. If a member teaches at more than one school, he/she may submit one flag design and one graphic design from each school.
3. Designs must be in color. Flags can be vertical or horizontal. The overall winning flag design for Ohio will be displayed vertically at the NAEA Conference. This may be something to consider in the design.
4. Entries must be submitted on the 2027 Official OHIO YAM Flag/Graphic Entry Form.
5. Designs must include the state name, “OHIO” and should include “YAM” or “Youth Art Month” somewhere in the design.
6. Designs must depict the 2027 YAM theme “My Community, My Story”
7. (Only for Ohio’s overall winning design) If your student’s design is selected as the “overall” winner for Ohio, it will represent Ohio at the National Flag Museum Exhibit at the NAEA Conference. The overall design winner must complete a release form for the exhibit and the OAEA member will need to join NAEA if not currently a member.
2026 Youth Art Month Flag and Graphic Design Competition
Thank you to the many OAEA teachers and their students who participated in the 2026 Youth Art Month Flag and Graphic Design Competition. This year’s national theme was “The World Needs Art”.
The overall winner for Ohio’s 2026 YAM FLAG Design is Momoka Matsuo, Grade 8. Her teacher is Laura Cantrell, from Troy Junior High School, Western Region. Momokas’s design represented Ohio in the flag exhibit at the National Art Education Association’s Conference in Chicago, Illinois. Momoka was presented with a 3' X 5’ flag of her design at the Youth Art Month Awards Ceremony in March in Columbus.
The overall winner for Ohio’s 2026 YAM GRAPHIC Design is Kynsten Pearrell, Grade 9 from Holy Name High School. Her art teacher is Marlene Nagy from Ohio’s Northeast region. Kynsten’s design was made into postcards which will be used to promote art education throughout Ohio.
All Ohio YAM Flag and Graphic design winners received a certificate from the Ohio Art Education Association and a grade level ribbon of 1st, 2nd, 3rd place or honorable mention. Congratulations to these creative, young designers.
Ohio’s Overall 2026 Graphic Design Winner
and 1st Place Graphic Design Grades 9-12
Kynsten Pearrell, Grade 9
Holy Name High School
Teacher - Marlene Nagy
Northeast Region
Ohio’s 2026 Overall Flag Design Winner
and 1st Place Flag Grades 6-8
Momoka Matsuo, Grade 8
Troy Junior High School
Teacher - Laura Cantrell
West Region