National Pest Management Association Announces Science Competition Winners

FAIRFAX, Va. (March 15, 2011) – The National Pest Management Association (NPMA) has announced the winners in its second annual Pest PSA Contest, a national science and technology competition for students. The competition is hosted on NPMA's educational children's web site, PestWorldForKids.org and for the second time in as many years, Red Bank Middle School has won the top prize of a $3,000 grant in support of science education for its entry, "Mosquitoes Bite." The runner up in the contest was an entry entitled, "Got Termites?" from Lakewood Christian Schools in Long Beach, CA.

To enter, teachers and students in grades four through eight created Public Service Announcements (PSAs) that would inform the public about the threats common pests, such as rodents, ants, termites, cockroaches, stinging insects and ticks can pose to public health and property.

"The goal of this contest is to help children to be aware of risks certain bugs and animals can pose when they come in contact with humans and their homes, thus, becoming pests. It's a fun project that allows students to exercise their knowledge and creativity in the classroom," said Missy Henriksen, vice president of public affairs for NPMA. "All the wonderful entries we received showed that students understand the important role pest control has in protecting public health and property."

All entries were judged on criteria including originality and creativity, adherence to creative assignment, health messaging, and overall appeal. The top five finalists' entries can be viewed at www.PestWorldForKids.org.

PestWorldForKids.org is a free, entertaining and educational web site developed by NPMA for students and teachers in grades K through 8. The sites features a pest glossary, a comprehensive pest guide, downloadable fact sheets and project PDFs, a report writing center, science fair projects and teacher lesson plans and games.

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.

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