For Immediate Release
Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department announces an opportunity for youth ages 9 to 14 to participate in the annual radon poster contest. The contest works to educate young people about the health risks of radon in the home.
“Radon is a common health hazard in Nebraska. The radon poster contest is a fun way to instruct children on the dangers of radon,” states Sarah Minnick, Program Manager. “The kids share what they learned about radon on their posters and then those posters are used to raise awareness in the community.” Students can be sponsored by public, private, or home schools or through a sponsoring club, such as an art, computer, or science club, scouting organization, or 4-H club. Seven schools participated in last year’s Radon Coloring Contest.
Poster Requirements:
- On white paper - the preferred size is 12 x 18 or 8.5 x 11 but all submission sizes will be accepted.
- Digital submissions are also accepted. This may be either digital artwork or digital photos of paper artwork.
- It can be created with crayons, markers, paint (watercolor, acrylic, etc.), collage, pencil, photographs, or computer graphics.
- Be original (please do not copy previous national, state, or local winning posters).
- Must NOT have the student’s name on the front.
- Copyrighted characters (such as Disney, Marvel Comics, Nebraska Huskers, any sports teams), product logos, and trademarked or brand names cannot be used.
The deadline for submitting posters to teachers is December 12, 2025. Posters can be dropped off at the office located at 404 West 10th Street in McCook or 10 North Spruce Street, Suite B, Ogallala, mailed to PO Box 1235, McCook NE 69001, or emailed to [email protected].
Prizes will be given to the top 3 posters in three age groups: 9-10, 11-12 and 13-14. Every child that participates will receive a gift and their teachers and parents are encouraged to share their posters with their communities to help raise awareness of radon gas.
In Nebraska, one out of every two homes tested has a high radon level. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States and the leading cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. It is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas that enters homes and buildings through the breakdown of uranium in the soil and cannot be detected unless it is tested.
For more details about the radon poster contest, contact Joy Trail at 308-345-4223. Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department serves Chase, Dundy, Frontier, Furnas, Hayes, Hitchcock, Keith, Perkins, and Red Willow counties. For more information about radon, visit swhealth.ne.gov or follow SWNPHD on Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube.