Drawing Conclusions
Contributed by Debra McGhan
Sometimes drawing a picture pays off. It sure did for the more than 100 children who entered the 15th annual Mat-Su Emergency Preparedness Expo poster contest. Everyone who submitted a poster on what it means to be prepared for emergencies and disasters received a free ice cream cone from McDonalds. The top posters in five age divisions were selected as grand champions, with another four selected as runners-up for special recognition.
Ercilia Trevino, the only entry received in the 16-18 age division, said she actually decided to enter on a last minute whim. “I volunteered to help at the Expo and saw that no one had entered my age division. They had everything we needed to make a poster right there so I thought about what emergency preparedness means to me and decided to sit down and draw a picture. I never expected to actually win a prize.”
The prize, thanks to the American Red Cross, Alaska Safe Riders, and the Matanuska Valley Federal Credit Union, consists of a Community Service award, a three-day family emergency kit, and a $50 gift certificate presented by the Matanuska-Susitna Borough Mayor, Edna DeVries and Assembly and Emergency Operations Center Specialist and Event Coordinator, Talon Boeve.
Six-year-old Chole Cole said her family had seen bears at their cabin this summer and on the trails. She thought it important for people to be prepared in the event they have a wildlife encounter. Lots of people agreed, giving her poster the most people’s choice votes for the 5-6 year old age division.
Aiden Watson, a second grader, said he had been thinking a lot about all the disasters happening around the world right now. “I thought about the big fire in Hawaii and wondered what my family could do to be better prepared,” he said. “You have to pack the right stuff and know where everything is if something happens. I really don’t think people take this seriously enough.” The seven year old won top place for his division thanks to his poster showing a family preparedness kit.
Lots of children agreed with Watson, submitting various versions of posters depicting backpacks and all the stuff you might need. The message that we all need to prepare seemed apparent to these young scholars.
Linda Murrell, the poster contest coordinator, said submissions were actually down this year so there was a lot of opportunity for kids who took the creative incentive and entered a poster. Even so, judging proved tough with many good drawings to choose from. A Judge’s Choice award recognized all the runners-up posters. Everyone involved with the contest encourages all the youth of the Mat-Su Valley to start thinking about what being prepared really means to you for next year’s contest.
Trevino, the 16-18 year-old category winner, said attending the Expo has become an annual event for her. “I had never heard of this Expo until some people came to our school last year looking for volunteers and told us about it,” she explained. “I’m in the National Honor Society and we need to do community service so I thought I’d volunteer. I liked it so much I jumped at the chance to volunteer again this year. And now, not only did I earn community service hours, I won a prize for drawing a picture about what I would do to be prepared for an earthquake. And that felt pretty good too.” Which seems like the perfect conclusion.
Winners:
5-6 years: Chole Cole, age 6
7-9 years: Aiden Watson, age 7
10-12 years: Castle Carpenter, age 12
13-15 years: Cody Athens, age 14
16-18 years: Ercilia Trevino, age 17
Runners-Up Entries:
5-6 years: Haylie Henderson, age 5
7-9 years: Ariana Cole, age 9
10-12 years: Sonya Saxon, age 11
13-15 years: Brody Clark, age 13