| Comments from Previous Poster Contest Winners
2007 Poster Contest Winner Rachel Stevenson:
Winning the National Missing Children's Poster Contest has been amazing. My State honored me in a ceremony at my school. Lots of important people in our government showed up, along with my family and friends. I also met our Governor in Columbus. Then we traveled to Washington. My time in Washington was unbelievable. There was a lot to do. Traveling through the cities and being at the award ceremony made my trip the best! At the National Missing Children's Day Ceremony many people were recognized for their actions. There were police officers who saved missing children, a family who helped find a missing child, a missing child who got away from his abductor, and families whose children haven't been found or who won't be coming home. There were also brothers and sisters of missing children who wrote about their feelings in the book “What About Me: Coping with the Abduction of a Brother or Sister”. Meeting these people was inspiring. Being there really made me think about how big of a difference this contest can make. I entered because I wanted to help bring missing children home to see their parents. I said in an interview that “I don't know what I'd do without my mom”. A radio host told me when he read that in the newspaper he thought about how my mom wouldn't know what to do without me. That's why doing everything we can to bring our missing children home is important. I wish I could meet everyone who made a poster and submitted it, to congratulate them on their hard work. They are making a difference in their community. I hope to meet next year's national poster contest winner in Washington in 2008.
Sincerely,
Rachel Stevenson
2006 Poster Contest Winner Catherine Braun:
My name is Catherine Braun and let me tell you one thing National Missing Children's Day was a blast! When I first sat down in the Art room at my school and my teacher said we were going to be entering a poster contest for National Missing Children's Day, I never thought I would be the one to win the National level of the contest and go to Washington D.C. When you draw your poster, 5th graders, I encourage you to draw your own ideas, because people who look at your posters judge them on creativity, originality, and based on how good your poster relates to National Missing Children's Day. I encourage you to do your best on this poster so I can see you in D.C. next year (2007), and so you can experience this great experience that I did. In D.C. I went to the Department of Justice building for the ceremony and to receive an award there as well. While I was sitting in my chair I heard about all kinds of people who had been kidnapped and returned, but I also heard about all those who had been kidnapped and not returned. If you win the poster contest imagine how many peoples' lives you could change, and save in the world and how much of a difference you could make. If you don't win the National level you could still win the state level and receive an award. D.C. was a blast and hopefully my poster will make a difference in the world and even in the U.S. today, and maybe I'll see you in D.C. Good luck to all and as for the winner, I'll see you soon.
Good Luck!
Sincerely,
Catherine
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