Working for CDC has afforded me with opportunities to develop health messages that are read by people throughout the world, which is pretty exciting. It’s a wonderful opportunity to meet people who hear and use those messages.
For that reason one of my greatest rewards has been my involvement with the “Fight the Bite” poster contest that CDC co-sponsors with the DEET Education Program. This is the third year we’ve held the contest and it was the best yet. It was a treat to meet national contest winners Meghan Zengel and Richard Schleicher. The students and their families came together recently for the “Fight the Bite” Poster Contest award ceremony at the Atlanta headquarters of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Those of us with the CDC and the DEET Education Program, which sponsor the contest, had a great time meeting the students and hearing about their artwork and their interesting plans for the future.
Meghan, a fifth grader, and Richard, a sixth grader, both received a $1,000 U.S. Savings Bond and an award certificate. Plus they won an all-expense-paid trip to Atlanta with their parents (and Meghan’s brother).
Students from New Hampshire to Washington State entered the third annual “Fight the Bite” poster contest. What pleased us most here at CDC was the quality of entries, with their young artists accurately conveying important prevention messages in attractive and creative ways. We can really get some insight into what young people hear from our bug-bite prevention messages, and we always take some new ideas for prevention and promotion away from the event. You can see the list of winners and their posters at http://www.fightthebitecontest.org/.
Richard, who competes in rodeos as a bull rider (what courage! So glad he uses a helmet!), used that thrilling sport as his theme. Meghan, who enjoys reading mystery novels, created a fun and clever poster around a detective with a magnifying glass.
Our contest invites fifth and sixth grade student to create posters encouraging children and adults to protect against mosquito and tick bites and the diseases they can cause. (Please visit http://www.cdc.gov/ for more). A panel of judges, including two top public health leaders, chose two Grand Prize winners—one from each grade—and they selected state winners for fifth grade and sixth grade, who each will receive a $50 savings bond and certificate.
Please tell youngsters who will be in those two grades next year about our contest. Of course, if you’re one, please enter! You’ll have fun, learn some valuable information and get a shot at some nice prizes.
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