FAIRFAX, Va. —The Professional Pest Management Alliance (PPMA), which serves as the public outreach arm of the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), has announced the winner of its national science and technology competition for students on its educational children’s Web site, PestWorldForKids.org. Red Bank Middle School, of Red Bank, NJ has won the grand prize and will be awarded $3,000 in support of science education for its entry titled “Club Roach.”
The contest challenged teachers and students in grades 4 through 8 to create educational Public Service Announcements (PSAs) that highlighted the health and property risks posed by household pests such as rodents, ants, termites, cockroaches, stinging insects and ticks.
“The Pest PSA Contest was designed to promote our industry and engage children in understanding the importance of professional pest management,” said Missy Henriksen, executive director of PPMA. “We were thrilled to receive many excellent submissions, but Red Bank Middle School’s ‘Club Roach’ entry stood out for its creativity, originality, humor and emphasis on educational messaging about the threats posed by cockroaches and other household pests.”
In addition to winning the grand prize, two of Red Bank Middle School’s additional entries placed among the top five finalists in the contest. Other finalists included Marion Junior/Senior High School in Marion, WI and Lakewood Christian Schools in Long Beach, CA. All entries were judged on criteria including originality and creativity, adherence to creative assignment, health messaging, and overall appeal. The top five finalists’ entries can be viewed at www.PestWorldForKids.org.
PestWorldForKids.org is a free, entertaining and educational Web site developed by PPMA for students and teachers in grades K through 8. The sites features a pest glossary, a comprehensive pest guide, downloadable fact sheets and project PDFs, a report writing center, science fair projects and teacher lesson plans and games.
The PPMA will hold its second annual Pest PSA Contest in the fall of 2010. Entry information and guidelines will be available on www.PestWorldForKids.org.
Click here to watch a video clip of the top five finalists’ entries to the Pest PSA contest.