Snowed-in students invited to design thank-you cards for Virginia teachers
Richmond, VA – While a winter storm keeps many Virginia students indoors, the Virginia Lottery is offering a creative way to spend that snow day — by designing thank-you cards that could be sent to teachers across the state this spring.
Through its annual Thank a Teacher campaign, the Virginia Lottery is now accepting student artwork submissions for the 2026 thank-you card contest. Three designs will be selected — one each from an elementary, middle, and high school student — and will be featured on thousands of cards distributed statewide during National Teacher Appreciation Week, May 4–8.
Each winning student artist will receive a $200 gift card, and their school will be awarded $2,000 in art supplies from The Supply Room.
The deadline to submit artwork is Monday, February 2, and entries can be submitted at www.thankateacherva.com.
After winners are announced, parents, students, and the public can send either digital or printed thank-you cards featuring the student-designed artwork to any K-12 public school teacher in Virginia.
The Thank a Teacher initiative is part of the Lottery’s broader effort to support K-12 public education. In Fiscal Year 2025, the Virginia Lottery generated over $901 million for K-12 education — about 10% of the state’s total public school budget.
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Key Points
- Virginia K-12 public school students invited to submit thank-you card artwork by February 2
- Winners receive a $200 gift card and schools earn $2,000 in art supplies
- Winning designs will be used during Teacher Appreciation Week, May 4–8, 2026