National Pest Management Association Challenges Students to Create Educational and Innovative Public Service Announcements For National Contest

PestWorldForKids.org, an educational children's website developed by the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), will hold its third annual national competition for students (grades 4 through 8) to win a $3,000 grand prize to benefit one school's science program. The contest challenges entrants to create educational public service announcements (PSAs) that highlight the health and property risks posed by household pests such as rodents, cockroaches, bed bugs and stinging insects.

Using the Pest PSA lesson plan available on PestWorldForKids.org, teachers can 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 acknowledge that school budgets are shrinking each year," says Missy Henriksen, vice president of public affairs for NPMA. "The annual Pest PSA Contest allows students to have fun in the classroom while providing a grand prize award that will be a significant boost to any science program."

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 N.J., which won the grand prize for their entry titled "Mosquitoes Bite." However, 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, educational website developed for teachers and students in grades K through 8. The site features a pest glossary, 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, details and to view last year's winning entries, please visit www.PestWorldForKids.org.

The NPMA, a non-profit organization with more than 7,000 members, was established in 1933 to support the pest management industry's commitment to the protection of public health, food and property.