Submitted Photo Winners in the Esmond VFW Auxiliary coloring contest from Little Flower School are, from left, Lydia Brase, Chelsea Blessum, Titus Volk, Oakley Benson, Noah Stewart, Jacob Selensky, Asher Benson, Gannon Deplazes, Paislee Ressler, Meagan Schaan, and Savanna Dockter.

Students at Little Flower Catholic School in Rugby put their artistic skills to the test in a patriotism-themed coloring contest in March sponsored by the Esmond Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary.

Robin Arnold, president of the Esmond VFW Auxiliary, said she chairs the patriotism department for the post.

“The whole school participated,” she said of the contest. Arnold and other judges chose the best work from pre-kindergarteners through sixth graders.

“They colored patriotic pictures,” she added. “(Students) could color any patriotic picture that they liked.

“We’ve been doing the contest in Maddock every year. And we figured since Rugby doesn’t have an active VFW Auxiliary and I know a couple of Little Flower teachers, I asked if they would be interested. They were really super to work with.”

Arnold said she worked with teachers Nancy Follman, Melissa Benson, and Laura Swanson to put on the contest, then collect and judge the colored patriotic pictures.

“They were all very good,” Arnold said of the entries. “There were some that were hard to judge because they were so close to first place, they were so good.”

She said the auxiliary gave out items with patriotic themes “like pencils with the Pledge of Allegiance on them and things like that.”

Arnold added the auxiliary hoped to hold future contests and bring more patriotic lessons to Little Flower School.

“We’re hoping maybe to add one more patriotic activity next year during the school year for them,” she said. “Flag folding might be something that we’re looking at.”

Contest winners were: Pre-Kindergarten: James Sager, first place; Josh Selenksy, second place; Evie Nelson, third place. Kindergarten: Brenna Zwingel, first place; Emalyn Grove, second place; Wylee Mantei, third place. First Grade: Brooklyn Bohl, first place; Genny Hurly, second place; McKenna Schaan, third place. Second Grade: Kimber Fritel, first place; Bre Selensky, second place; Hadlie Deplazes, third place. Third Grade: Oakley Benson, first place; Noah Stewart, second place; Titus Volk, third place. Fourth Grade: Lydia Brase, first place; Chelsea Blessum, second place; Jacie Selvig, third place. Fifth Grade: Jacob Selensky, first place; Asher Benson, second place; Savanna Dockter, third place. Sixth Grade: Gannon Deplazes, first place; Paislee Ressler, second place; Heagan Schaan, third place.