FAIRFAX, Va. — The Professional Pest Management Alliance (PPMA), which serves as the public outreach arm of the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), has announced its third annual contest for students on its educational children’s website, PestWorldForKids.org. The national contest challenges students in grades 4 through 8 to create their own educational public service announcement (PSA) that highlights the health and property risks posed by common household pests such as rodents, ants, termites, cockroaches, stinging insects and bed bugs.

Using the Pest PSA lesson plan available on PestWorldForKids.org, teachers are able to assign students the task of creating 30- or 60-second television PSAs. The contest begins September 6, 2011 and will officially close at 11:59 p.m. EST on December 23, 2011. Entries must be submitted by teachers through the entries page on PestWorldForKids.org or sent via U.S. postal mail to the address listed in the official rules and regulations.
“We are excited to offer students the opportunity to explore an important educational topic while having fun in the classroom,” says Missy Henriksen, executive director of PPMA. “We hope pest control companies will once again help us to spread the word about this contest and encourage their local communities to participate. Our goal is to spread awareness about pest issues and spark interest in the classroom, as well as benefit the communities in which our members serve.”

Five finalists will win “bragging rights” as top performing schools in the Pest PSA Contest, and will have their entries publicly posted to PestWorldForKids.org. One school will be recognized as the grand prize winner and will receive a $3,000 award for their school’s science department.

Last year’s winner was Red Bank Middle School in Red Bank New Jersey, which won the grand prize for their entry titled “Mosquitoes Bite.” However, all entries were exceptionally strong, so the organization also awarded a $1,000 cash prize to the runner up, Lakewood Christian Schools in Long Beach, CA.

PestWorldForKids.org is a free, entertaining and educational website developed for teachers and students in grades K through 8. The site features a pest glossary, comprehensive pest guide, downloadable factsheets, report writing center, science fair projects, lesson plans and games designed to teach children about insects and rodents in their natural habitats, and the health and property risks posed by pests once they find their way into the home.

For contest rules and details, and to view last year’s winning entries, please visit www.PestWorldForKids.org. To learn more about how you can promote this program within schools in your service area, please contact Missy Henriksen at mhenriksen@pestworld.org.