2012 N.C. Radon Poster Contest Sponsored by the N.C. Radon Program in the Division of Environmental Health, N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources, is designed to raise awareness for radon testing and inform people of the potential danger of radon in their homes. Children ages 9 to 14 are eligible to participate

Radon is a colorless, odorless and tasteless gas that can kill. The U.S. Surgeon General lists it as the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. This radioactive element moves through the ground to the surface, easily entering homes and buildings. There is no way to detect the amount of radon present unless it is tested.

Harmful effects of elevated levels of indoor radon gas are a problem. The geology of North Carolina suggests many areas could have elevated indoor radon levels, especially in the piedmont and mountain regions, as illustrated on the North Carolina county map below. The solution is to reduce the number of homes with elevated levels of radon.

Artwork Requirements Be original and be on white paper. 8.5 x 11 or 12 x 18 paper size preferred for ease of reproducibility. Must not have students name on the front. Should include a title on the front. Topic and title must be on the artwork. Submission Form must be completed and attached to submission. Can be created with crayon, markers, paint (watercolor, tempera, acrylic), collage, photographs or computer graphics. Lettering and message should be large enough to reproduce well, with all pencil markings erased. Copyrighted characters (such as Snoopy), product logos and trademarked or brand names cannot be used.

Poster Topics Choose from the following five topics: 1. What is radon? 2. Where does radon come from? 3. How does radon get into our homes? 4. Radon can cause lung cancer. 5. Test your home for radon.

Judging Criteria Content accuracy Visual communication of topic Reproducibility Originality

Entry Deadline Must be postmarked by Oct. 14, – Turn in to Mrs. Berdeau by Oct. 10, 2011 Only one entry may be submitted per child. The artwork submission form must be completed legibly and submitted with the poster (preferably taped to the back of the poster). The form is available at est_Entry_and_Artwork_Submission_Form_v4.pd f or ask Mrs. Berdeau est_Entry_and_Artwork_Submission_Form_v4.pd f

First-, second- and third-place winners will also be entered into the national poster contest for a chance to win an all expenses- paid trip to Washington, DC, with the reproduction of their poster nationally distributed on t-shirts and other promotional items! See contest for details.

Prizes First Place: $100 and a framed award certificate Second Place: $75 and a framed award certificate Third place: $50 and a framed award certificate Honorary Mention: $25 and a framed award certificate

The North Carolina Radon Program will recognize a first-, second- and third-place prize winner and selected honorary mention award winners in an awards ceremony held at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences in Raleigh.

1 st Place Maya Gouw, Carrington Middle School, Durham ($100)

2 nd Place Melissa Moreno, Guilford Middle School, Greensboro ($75)

3 rd Place Erica Perine, The Academy at Lincoln, Greensboro ($50)

Contest Calendar 2012 Contest opens February 1, 201 and closes October 31, 2011 Turn in to Mrs. Berdeau by Oct. 10, 2010 Postmarked by Oct. 14 for State and National Levels Judging for national level entries will occur by November 18, 2011 Notification of national winners will occur by December 10, 2011 Notification of state winners chosen as part of the national judging will occur by December 15, 2011

National Winners National winners will receive award plaques and gift cards in the amount of $1000 for first place, $600 for second, $400 for third, and $400 for special online voting recognition. National winners will be recognized in the state and EPA region where they live, and the posters will be reproduced and distributed nationally to promote radon awareness.

1st Place Keep Your Family Safe Logan, Age 14 of Dania, FL

2nd Place Do You Test Your Home for Radon? Darwin, Age 9 of Virginia Beach, VA

3rd Place Test Your Home for Radon Divya, Age 13 of Bridgewater, NJ

1 st Place Radon Kills Alec of Guthrie, OK

2 nd Place Radon Can be Anywhere Emily of Holladay, UT

3 rd Place Dont Let Radon Take Your Life Noah of Savannah, MO

Websites

FHS Student Posters 2011 Contest

NC Honorable mention Jennifer