Welcome to the National Missing Children's Day Poster Contest webinar. 
My name is Nadia Tunstall, and I am the Project Manager for OJJDP's Missing and Exploited Children's Program, 
also known as MECP. 
MECP coordinates the national poster contest activities on behalf of the Office of Juvenile Justice 
and Delinquency Prevention. 
Before we begin, I would like to introduce Rachel Stevenson of Ohio. 
Rachel is the 2007 national poster contest winner. 
Welcome, Rachel, it's a pleasure to have you join us today. 
It's an honor to be here. 
Let's get started. 
As you may know, the poster contest is held in conjunction with the National Missing Children's Day ceremony each year. 
Here's a brief background on the National Missing Children's Day ceremony. 
May 25th is the anniversary of the day in 1979 when six-year-old Etan Patz disappeared from a New York street corner 
on his way to school. 
It was Etan's first time making the walk alone, and his family never saw him again. 
Though law enforcement have recently named and arrested a suspect in Etan's disappearance, he still remains missing. 
Etan's disappearance increased nationwide awareness of the issue of missing children as no other case had before. 
Etan's face was the first to appear on a milk carton. 
Then in 1983, National Missing Children's Day was proclaimed by President Ronald Reagan. 
Since that time, family, friends, public agencies 
and private organizations have gathered in communities throughout the country to raise public awareness about missing 
children and to recognize the need to work together to respond effectively to this national problem. 
Each year the Department of Justice commemorates National Missing Children's Day with a ceremony in Washington, D.C. 
to honor the heroic and extraordinary efforts of agencies, organizations and individuals who protect children. 
They are awarded for their courageous and often valiant efforts to recover abducted children 
and to protect children from exploitation. 
Among the awards given at this ceremony, it is a special award for the National Poster Contest. 
Annually, the Department of Justice hosts the art contest for fifth graders, 
and the theme of this contest is Bring Our Missing Children Home. 
Students are asked to draw 
and design an original poster that reflects this theme as well as complete an application describing the importance of 
the theme and raising safety awareness. 
The poster contest is connected to the commemoration of National Missing Children's Day for several reasons. 
First it brings greater awareness to the issue of missing children. 
It also provides an opportunity for schools, law enforcement, and other community organizations to engage children 
and their parents in informative discussions on safety and prevention. 
Equally important, the contest provides an opportunity for federal, state and local organizations to develop 
and build upon partnerships. 
The contest fosters communication between agencies that may be working on similar child protection issues 
and allows them to leverage resources in support of the same cause. 
For instance, the Missing Children's Clearinghouse, state department of education, local law enforcement, 
(inaudible) member organizations, faith-based groups, and other nonprofits, 
as well as the private industry often collaborate to host and judge state contests. 
Through their work, 
the multiple partners involved in the National Missing Children's Day poster contest encourage all children to learn 
about safety. 
OJJDP directs the national-level contest for children in the fifth grade. 
Students from public, private, parochial and home schools are all encouraged to participate. 
There are also some national-level rules and judging criteria. 
Please note that students are asked to design 
and draw a poster that reflects the theme as well as complete an application. 
The applicant must be in the fifth grade, and the phrase "Bring Our Missing Children Home" must appear on the poster. 
This theme must be depicted visually in one or a combination of medium. 
However, digitally-produced images, collages, cutouts and stamping will not be eligible for consideration. 
The poster must also measure 8.5 by 14 inches. 
Please see the contest rules on the MECP website for more information. 
You may also find the application at the link located on your screen. 
National-level rules and deadlines apply to all state-level contests. 
However the process varies by state. 
The Missing Children's Clearinghouse in each state, 
or an organization designated by the Clearinghouse manages the state contest. 
Each state holds its own poster contest, 
and then that first place winner is submitted to OJJDP for selection of the national winner. 
All posters must be submitted to your state manager. 
OJJDP will not accept posters that are submitted by a teacher, a school, or non-designated contact manager. 
Please contact your state manager for more information on your state's deadline and processes. 
More information may be found at MECPtraining.org. 
Students are awarded for their participation in both the state and national-level contests. 
Each state manager has the discretion to award state winners as they see fit. 
The national winner is invited to accept his 
or her award at the annual National Missing Children's Day ceremony in which OJJDP provides transportation 
and lodging to the winner, the winner's teacher, and his or her parents. 
At the ceremony, the winner is awarded with a certificate, a U.S. savings bond, 
as well as transportation to the ceremony the following year. 
Over the last few years, we have seen a tremendous increase in the number of states 
and schools participating in the contest. 
It is with great pleasure every year that OJJDP partners with representatives from the National Center for Missing 
and Exploited Children, the National Endowment of the Arts, 
as well as members of the law enforcement community to select the national winning poster. 
Just five years ago we honored Rachel for her artwork. 
Rachel, please share your experiences that year. 
I heard about the poster contest from my fifth grade teacher at St. Mary's School. 
I entered the contest because I felt compelled to do it. 
If by taking my time to draw one poster could help save any missing children or spread awareness about them, 
I would be happy because I had made a difference. 
My poster was inspired by the fact that children worldwide are missing. 
Abduction is a disease that affects all people, no matter race, religion or wealth. 
The idea behind my poster is that no matter where abduction is occurring, 
we should band together to raise awareness and try our best to prevent it. 
The hearts on the side represent a timeline of abducted children 
and bring awareness to the fact that abduction has been happening for a long time, 
and that no matter how long a child is missing, they will always be loved and searched for. 
Also, the footprints symbolize the steps we need to take to bring our missing children home. 
I learned the reality of abduction and the impact it makes on society, families, and friends of the victim. 
Before the ceremony, abduction seemed almost unreal to me. 
I never truly realized the severity of it until I met real people who had gone missing 
and families who had lost a loved one to abduction. 
It was truly an eye opener. 
As part of this experience, I met many important people, including local law officials and the mayor. 
I also met the governor of my state. 
I was honored in various ceremonies and by national sports teams including the Cleveland Indians and Cavaliers. 
In D.C. I met with my state's congress people and senators. 
I also had the honor of meeting Senator Ted Kennedy. 
He was so impressed with what I was in D.C. doing that my family spent the afternoon with him and his dogs. 
He spoke about and showed us many personal photographs of his family 
and extended the offer for us to come visit him any time. 
At the actual ceremony I met many dignitaries and celebrities, 
but most importantly I met families that had been altered and scarred by abduction. 
Some people that stand out in my mind are Alicia, who was abducted by a fake friend on MySpace, Elizabeth Smart, 
and Molly Bish's family who said I reminded them so much of their own daughter who was never found after being 
abducted. 
I believe it is important for students to enter this contest because the cause is so great. 
It's important to raise awareness and support bringing missing children home, 
and each poster made is a step closer to achieving that goal. 
If entering this contest could save one life or help in any way, then it's worth it. 
I would tell children to empathize with the plight of missing children and their families, 
to not take what they have for granted, and to be grateful for their parents, a warm bed, and a roof over their head. 
You never know what tomorrow may bring or what you have until it's gone. 
Thank you so much for sharing, Rachel. 
Would you mind telling our audiences a little bit about your year in school 
and your extracurricular activities as well as your future plans? 
Well, currently I'm a high school junior. 
I'm an honor student taking all college classes, and I'm involved in student council, class officers, Key Club, 
and I do a lot of community service. 
I also play Junior Olympics volleyball for a club team called Pride, and I hope to attend college 
and major in English and film production. 
Excellent. 
We are all so very proud of your accomplishments as well as your recent activities. 
As you can see, there are several benefits to participating in the art contest. 
It is not just an art contest. 
It is an awareness campaign that informs parents, educators and students that abduction is a reality. 
More importantly, it highlights the importance of proactive education programs. 
The 2012 winning poster was created by Elisa Martinez of Nevada. 
Elisa wanted to send a message to missing children that there are people out there that care that they are missing. 
We are all so excited to have Elisa join us for this year's poster contest 
and passing the torch to the 2013 winner as well as to highlight the fact that another school, another program, 
and another community are talking about abduction awareness. 
National winners like Rachel and Elisa are often recognized by their state and local media. 
We would like to highlight some state programs that provide additional incentives to their students for participating 
in the individual state contests. 
For instance, 
Florida holds a statewide essay contest regarding National Missing Children's Day as well as a poster contest similar 
to that of the national level which is open to kindergarteners through sixth grade. 
All winners are brought to Tallahassee for Florida's Missing Children's Day ceremony 
which often takes place in September. 
Montana often provides a cash prize to the state poster contest winner. 
Arkansas partners with the local AT&T franchise to award cash prizes to the winner 
and runners up of their state contest. 
And last but not least, Nevada provides their state contest winner with an opportunity to meet Las Vegas City Hall 
and places their poster design on a commemorative t-shirt for Nevada's Race4kids Marathon. 
How can you raise awareness about Missing Children's issues? 
Contact your state managers to determine how you can become involved in their campaigns. 
Encourage fifth grade students in your local area to enter the poster contest. 
Forward the contest information to all of your elementary school art teachers as well as the PTA. 
And inform your school resource officers and local police department about the contest. 
We have created an activity guide to assist community programs 
and parents with their safety education discussion as well as with the poster contest. 
The activity guide is available for download on the MECPtraining.org webpage. 
Before we close I would like to thank everyone for viewing this presentation today. 
I encourage you to visit our poster contest resource page at www.mecptraining.org for more information. 
You may also contact us at the information on your screen. 
We hope that you will join us today in raising awareness for missing children by having safety discussions with youth 
as well as participating in this year's contest. 
Thank you so much, and I hope that you will join us in this noble cause. 
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