Students and Parents

Students and Parents

Did you know that radon is the second-leading cause of lung cancer, behind only smoking? We need the help of student leaders across the country to help raise radon awareness! Help us raise awareness and encourage radon testing by entering the National Radon Poster Contest. You can enter the contest on your own with the help of a parent, or get your whole class or group involved in the contest. Not only will you join others across the country who are showing the dangers of radon, but you may also win a financial award. Read below to learn how you can enter your drawing in the National Radon Poster Contest, and where you can learn more about radon.

Contest Calendar

Contest Calendar:
  • This year's contest officially opens on February 1, 2013
  • State-level judging occurs in many states. Click here to see if your state accepts entries, and to find the entry deadline and information for your state. States forward their top three poster entries to Kansas State University for the national contest judging.
  • If your state is not listed on the State Poster Contest Contact list, send poster entries directly to KSU by November 1, 2013
  • Judging for national level entries will occur by November 20, 2013
  • Notification of state winners chosen as part of the national judging will occur by November 30, 2013

 

How Can I Get Started?

Follow these steps to prepare your entry for the National Radon Poster Contest:

  1. Learn about radon gas in the “What is Radon” section below, or by playing the "Who Wants to Breathe Radon Air" game designed by the Alabama Cooperative Extension System and available through the Nevada Cooperative Extension Radon Education Program.
  2. Now that you are a radon expert, you are ready to start your artwork! There are several ways to start creating your poster:
  3. Once you have completed your entry, ask a teacher, parent or group leader complete the Artwork Submission Form.
  4. Ask your teacher, parent or group leader to help you submit your entry. There are several ways to submit entries:
    • Mail your artwork and submission form directly to your state radon poster contest contact, if one is available for your state;
    • Use our online entry form;
    • If no contact is available for your state, mail your artwork and submission form directly to Kansas State University at:
      National Radon Program Services
      2011 National Radon Poster Contest
      133 Ward Hall –KSU
      Manhattan, KS 66506-2508;
    • Take a photograph or scan your artwork and e-mail an electronic copy, along with your submission form, to Kansas State University at radon@ksu.edu

Contest Rules

Please read the following rules for entry:

  • Children ages 9-14 are eligible to enter the contest. They can be enrolled in a public, private, territorial, tribal, U.S. Department of Defense or home school — or can enter through a sponsoring club, such as an art, computer or science club; scouting organization; or 4-H club.
  • The theme of your poster should be one of these 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.
  • Make sure that your artwork:
    • Is original;
    • Does not have student’s name on the front;
    • Includes a title on the front;
    • Includes Artwork Submission Form with topic and title;
    • Is created on white paper - 12 x 18 and 8.5 x 11 sizes are preferred, but all submission sizes will be accepted (preferred size eases reproducibility);
    • Is created using crayon, markers, paint (watercolor, tempera, acrylic), collage, photographs or computer graphics;
    • Includes lettering and messaging that is large enough to reproduce well, with all pencil markings erased; and
    • Does not include copyrighted characters (such as Snoopy), product logos and trademarked or brand names.
  • Entries will be judged based on content accuracy, visual communication of the topic, reproducibility, and originality.
  • 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 a special mention. 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.

What is Radon?

Radon is a naturally occurring gas that comes from various rocks, soils, and underground water sources. Radon gives off radiation that can cause lung cancer. Radon forms from the breakdown of the natural elements uranium and radium.

To learn more about radon to prepare for the Poster Contest and educate others, visit:
http://www.epa.gov/radon/justforkids.html

http://www.epa.gov/radon/index.html

http://sosradon.org/science-fair-project

http://www.epa.gov/radon/nram/public.html