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

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.

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, NATO member Nations, or 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.

Model NATO Challenge & Student Diplomat Program

The Festival is proud to award scholarships to the following students serving on the 2011 Student Diplomat Corps:

Click here to learn more about the Model NATO Challenge

 Local Norfolk high school juniors and seniors are chosen through an essay contest demonstrating their knowledge of NATO and its member Nations. Selected students serve as Student Diplomats in the Norfolk NATO Festival. As Student Diplomats, they each represent 1 of the 28 NATO member nation's interests in the Model NATO Challenge, a spirited debate modeled after real NATO problem solving techniques. Student Diplomats are judged based on their essays and performance at the Model NATO Challenge. The top 6 candidates receive a scholarship award to be applied to the college/university of their choice.

Click here for an application to serve as a 2012 Student Diplomat.  Applicants must be a high school junior or senior attending school in Hampton Roads during the 2011/2012 school year. Applications are due January 13, 2012 and may be mailed, faxed or emailed to the Norfolk NATO Festival office.