NATIONAL VETERANS CREATIVE ARTS FESTIVAL
Click here for the festival website.
The Creative Arts Festival, presented by the department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the American Legion Auxiliary and Help Hospitalized Veterans, is the culmination of a year-long fine arts talent competition involving 3,000 participants nationwide. The festival is open to all veterans receiving care at VA medical facilities.
From all entries, approximately 150 medal-winning veterans in the visual arts as well as creative writing, music, drama and dance earn an invitation to participate in the annual festival gala, held in a different U.S. city each year.
Mike has been a consistent invitee since 2004 for his drama
and creative writing entries. He has also been featured in promotional material
for the festival.
Click here to see shots of Mike in a promotional
DVD!
Medals since 2004
Drama
12 Gold Medals
3 Silver Medals
4 Bronze Medals
Creative Writing
1 Gold Medal
1 Bronze Medal
2011 - Fayetteville, AK
Division: Drama
Gold Medal: Group Patriotic Prose
Title: What Is a Veteran?
(father-and-son entry with Stephen McCann)
Division: Creative Writing
Bronze Medal: Dialogue
and
Division Drama
Bronze Medal: Solo Comedy
Tile: My Pills
Division: Drama
Bronze Medal: Solo Religious Poetry
Title: Angel of America
Click here to see Mike at the 2011 Festival!
2010 - La Crosse, WI
Division: Creative Writing
Silver Medal: Group Creative Writing
and
Division: Drama
Gold Medal: Group Dramatic Interpretive Performance
Title: Then and Now
Click here to see Mike at the 2010 Festival!
2009 - San Antonio, TX
Division: Drama
Bronze Medal: Solo Interpretive Prose
Title: Sticking Up for America
Division: Drama
Bronze Medal: Solo Patriotic Prose
Title: Vet in the Mirror
Click here to see Mike's entries for the 2009 Festival!
2008 - Riverside, CA
Division: Comedy
Gold Medal: Group Comedy
Title: Dances of the Stars
Division: Drama
Gold Medal: Group Dramatic Prose
Title: The Irony of War
Silver Medal: Solo Patriotic Poetry
Title: When You Think of Liberty, Think of Me
Click here to see Mike at the 2008 Festival!
2007 - St. Louis, MO
Division: Drama
Gold Medal: Solo Comedy
Title: Rules of Dating a Drill Instructor's Daughter
Gold Medal: Group Dramatic Prose
Title: The Haircut
Click here to see Mike at the 2007 Festival!
2006 - Rapid City, SD
Division: Creative Writing
Gold Medal: Group Creative Writing
and
Division: Drama
Gold Medal: Group Patriotic Prose
Title: We Thank You
Gold Medal: Mime
Title: The Flag
Silver Medal: Religious Poetry
Title: An American Prayer
Click here to see Mike at the 2006 Festival!
2005 - Denver, CO
Division: Drama
Gold Medal: Solo Comedy
Title: K-9 Dog Vet
Gold Medal: Solo Patriotic Poetry
Title: The Sands of Christmas
Gold Medal (Tie): Multimedia Video
Title: Message from the Beach
Click here to see Mike at the 2005 Festival!
Click here to read page 1 and page 2 of an article on Mike's experience at the 2005 Festival.
Click here to see a special presentation by Mike in Washington D.C.
2004 - Salt Lake City, UT
Division: Drama
Gold Medal: Solo Drama
Title: The End of I
Click here to see Mike at the 2004 Festival!
Click here to read an article about Mike's experience at the 2004 Festival.