Join the Educate Fairfax Bookmark Art Contest!
- Brian Tinsman
- Mar 9
- 4 min read
Updated: Mar 12
Some of the most important journeys in a young person’s life begin quietly, with a book.
It might start with a story read before bedtime, a classroom novel that sparks curiosity, or a trip to the library that opens a door to something entirely new.
Those moments of discovery are more than just reading practice. They build imagination, confidence, and the habits that shape future leaders.
That simple connection between reading and opportunity is the inspiration behind this year’s Educate Fairfax Bookmark Art Contest, built around the theme “Today’s Reader, Tomorrow’s Leader.”
Across Fairfax County Public Schools, students are invited to design a bookmark that reflects what learning, creativity, and leadership mean to them.
A bookmark may be small, but it carries a big idea. It holds your place in a story. It reminds you to return to a book. And sometimes, it marks the moment when a student begins to see themselves as something more: a thinker, a problem solver, a leader.
Through this contest, Educate Fairfax hopes to celebrate that spark of imagination.
Students can create their designs using crayons, markers, colored pencils, or paint, filling a bookmark-sized space with artwork inspired by the theme.
Whether the design features books, symbols of learning, or a simple message about the power of education, each bookmark offers a chance for students to show how they see the connection between reading and their future.
When the submissions arrive, our team will look for designs that show creativity, originality, and a clear connection to the theme. We’ll also be paying attention to the effort students put into their work and the big ideas they bring to life in their designs. 
Four winners will be selected from across grade levels, ensuring students of different ages have the opportunity to be recognized. Their winning bookmarks will be printed and shared throughout schools and the community, turning student creativity into something that inspires others to pick up a book.
Each winner will also receive a $25 gift card as a small thank-you for their creativity and effort. 
Students can submit their artwork through several simple options, including mailing it, emailing a scanned version, or asking a teacher to send it through school mail.
Entries are due by Friday, April 17, and winners will be announced later in April. 
At Educate Fairfax, we believe every student deserves a path to success. Sometimes that path begins with a classroom lesson, a caring teacher, or a community that believes in them.
And sometimes it begins with something as simple as a book that sparks curiosity and a bookmark that reminds them to keep turning the page.
Accessible Version of the Bookmark Contest Flyer:
Educate Fairfax Bookmark Art Contest
Theme: Today’s Reader, Tomorrow’s Leader
Educate Fairfax invites students across Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) to participate in our Bookmark Art Contest. This contest celebrates the power of reading, creativity, and imagination.
Students are encouraged to design a bookmark that shows how learning today can help shape the leaders of tomorrow.
Prizes will be awarded to the winning designs.
Use your imagination to create a bookmark that reflects how education, reading, and creativity prepare you for the future.
How to Create Your Bookmark
Your bookmark design should follow these guidelines:
Size: 2 inches wide by 7 inches tall
Draw inside the lines so your design can be printed correctly
You may use crayons, markers, colored pencils, or paint
Artwork must be flat (no glitter, stickers, or pop-ups)
Make sure your design is 100% your own work
What Should Be Included
Your bookmark design should include:
Pictures or designs inspired by the contest theme
An optional short, school-appropriate message or phrase
On the back of the bookmark, lightly write:
Your name
Your grade
Your school
How Winners Will Be Selected
Entries will be judged based on:
Creativity and originality
Connection to the contest theme
Neatness and effort
Big ideas expressed in fun and creative ways
Awards
Winning bookmark designs will be printed and shared in schools and throughout the community.
Four winners will be selected, including one from each of the following grade groups:
Kindergarten – Grade 2
Grades 3 – 6
Middle School
High School
Each winner will receive a $25 gift card.
Submission Deadline
All entries must be submitted by:
Friday, April 17, 2026
Winners will be notified in late April.
How to Submit Your Bookmark
Students may submit their artwork in any of the following ways:
Mail:
Educate Fairfax
8270 Willow Oaks Corporate Drive
Fairfax, VA 22031
Email:
Scan your bookmark and send it to
Through Your School:
Students may also ask a teacher to submit the bookmark using FCPS pony mail.
Important Notes
By submitting artwork, students confirm that they are currently enrolled in Fairfax County Public Schools and grant permission for Educate Fairfax to use the design for printing and promotion.
Only the student’s first name and grade will be used when sharing winning designs.
All artwork must be original and created by the student.
A parent or guardian signature will be required for winning entries.
Questions
For questions about the contest, please contact:
Educate Fairfax
Email: info@educatefairfax.org