Poster Contest
2026-2027 Theme
The theme for 2026-2027 is: “A Healthy Me Is Drug Free” Download Contest Forms
Submit to Your State DAP Chairperson, Not National
Lodges must submit their poster entries to their State DAP Chairperson, not to the National Contest address below. The State Chairperson runs the District and State-level judging and is the only one who submits the State’s winning poster to National.
Posters mailed directly to the National contest without going through a State Chairperson will not be considered for judging and are not eligible.
Participation Rules
Section titled “Participation Rules”- Eligible Participants: Students in 3rd, 4th, & 5th grade.
- Poster Specifications: Posters must be standard letter size (8 1/2 x 11 inches). This size requirement is fixed and applies to all entries. Lodges may have additional criteria (such as theme interpretation); please confirm those locally.
Judging Criteria
Section titled “Judging Criteria”Posters will be judged on:
- Relevance to the contest theme.
- Neatness and visual appeal.
- Creativity and originality.
- Proper use of grammar, as applicable.
Submission Details
Section titled “Submission Details”On the back of each poster, please ensure the inclusion of:
- Student’s full name.
- School, location, and grade.
- Name of the sponsoring Elks Lodge.
- A signed Hold Harmless Agreement.
State Chairpersons: Submit Your State Winner To:
Henry L Farnum
904 Costigan Drive
Newport News VA 23608
Copyright Guidelines
Section titled “Copyright Guidelines”Originality is key. Posters featuring copyrighted characters or content will be disqualified.
Contest Timeline
Section titled “Contest Timeline”Local Lodges should submit entries to their State DAP Chairperson well ahead of the State’s internal deadline, so the Chairperson has time to run District and State judging. Contact your local Elks Lodge or State Association for the State’s specific submission deadline. The State Chairperson’s deadline to submit the State’s winning poster to the National Contest is April 1.
Winners
Section titled “Winners”Each Elks Lodge selects its top posters using the judging criteria above. Lodges notify their own winners and are responsible for giving their own awards. The winning posters are then forwarded to District and State-Level Competition, run by the State DAP Chairperson — entries are never sent directly to National.
The State Drug Awareness Committee chooses the State First Place Winner. The State DAP Chairperson is the only person who submits their state’s winning entry into the National Contest, where it may be featured in the Elks DAP Coloring Book, on the Elks Kids Zone Website, and/or in ENF and DAP publications.
All winning entries become the sole property of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and may not be returned — you may want to keep a copy of your poster.
Not Eligible: Direct Submissions
Posters submitted directly to National by a Lodge, school, or individual—without going through the State DAP Chairperson—will not be judged and are not eligible for national recognition.
We entrust you with the role of guiding our youth to be beacons of hope and advocates for drug-free living. Your active engagement is crucial in elevating the reach and impact of this contest.
For comprehensive contest details and to access additional resources, please visit: Elks Drug Awareness Program Contests page.