The Festival is proud to work in partnership with Norfolk Public Schools, local private schools, Norfolk State University, Old Dominion University, and Allied Command Transformation to provide a world-class international studies experience to students of all ages in the Hampton Roads area.

Click here for more information about the Festival’s partnership with Norfolk Public Schools

Elementary Art Exhibitions

Norfolk Public School Elementary students have the opportunity to participate in art projects throughout the school year which will be displayed at NATOFest in Town Point Park, in promotional materials for the Festival, and on the Festival’s website. The themes for these art projects will be Unity, Friendship, and Identity, reflecting the shared values among NATO member nations. The Festival will award a Certificate of Appreciation to all students who participate.

Beginning in 2010, NPS Elementary Schools also will be visited by the Festival’s Youth Ambassadors during National Foreign Language Week.

Digital Storytelling Project

Norfolk Public Middle School students demonstrate their research, creative writing, teamwork and storytelling skills by creating digital short stories. The digital stories should demonstrate the student's knowledge of NATO, the Most Honored Nation, or the Festival history. All entries will be judged and the top entries three entries will be awarded prizes.  The winning digital short story will be used at various Festival events.

Student Forum

With guidance provided by Staff Officers from NATO Headquarters, students from Norfolk Public High Schools will compete for their school by perform skits that demonstrate the future role of NATO in this annual competition.  The winning team will be awarded prizes and presented the Student Forum Trophy to be displayed in their school for the next year. 

An essay contest will also be held at the Student Forum.  One essay from each of the 5 Norfolk Public High School’s will be submitted and judged.  2009 winner Archie Duncan from Granby High School won a trip to the Czech Republic! Click the tab below to see pictures from Archie’s visit to the 2009 Most Honored Nation.

» Czech Republic Photo Gallery

Student Diplomat Program

The Festival is proud to award scholarships to the following students serving on the 2010 Student Diplomat Corps:

Click here to learn more about the Model NATO Challenge

 Local Norfolk high school juniors, seniors, and college freshmen are chosen through an essay contest that demonstrates their knowledge of NATO and its member Nations to serve as Student Diplomats in the Norfolk NATO Festival. As Student Diplomats, they will each represent one of the 28 NATO member nation's interests in the Model NATO Challenge, a spirited debate modeled after real NATO problem solving techniques. The Student Diplomats will be judged based on their essays and performance at the Model NATO Challenge. The top 6 candidates will receive a scholarship award to be applied to the college/university of their choice.

Click here for an application to serve as a 2010 Student Diplomat.  Applicants must be a high school junior, senior or college freshman attending school in Norfolk, VA during the 2009/2010 school year.  Applications are due October 30, 2010 and may be mailed, faxed or emailed to the Festival office.