2009 Missing Children Poster Contest Award Winner Announced

BANGOR - On May 15, 2009, Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation Director Craig Klyve was joined at Bangor Elementary School in Bangor, Wisconsin, by school officials, law enforcement officials and Wisconsin school children who had participated in this year's national missing children poster competition.

In an effort to educate children across the country about child safety, the United States Department of Justice, through its Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Child Protection Division, sponsors a National Missing Children's Day poster contest in coordination with Amber Alert for fifth grade students to create artwork that will represent America's efforts to search for missing children and bring them home safely, and also promote child safety.  The Department of Justice's Wisconsin Clearinghouse for Missing and Exploited Children and Adults is a proud supporter of this effort.

Kassidy Wuensch, a fifth-grade student at Bangor Elementary School, was chosen as this year's winner of the statewide poster contest in Wisconsin.  The contest theme is "Bringing Our Missing Children Home".  The children participating in the contest provide a brief biography, and must also include a brief paragraph that explains what the artwork in their posters exemplifies. Kassidy is the daughter of Michael and Kathy Wuensch. Kassidy's teacher is Amy Kratochvill. Lois Meinking is the Principal at Bangor Elementary School.

Receiving Honorable Mention in the contest were:
Second Place: Amanda Nosavanh, Manitoba Elementary
Third Place: Alicia Schwahn, Northwoods Elementary
Honorable Mention:  Breanna Wendorf, Tess Atkinson, Emily Gimm, Abby Mitchell,
Prairie View Elementary
Honorable Mention: Taylor Schreiber, Freedom Elementary
Honorable Mention: Katie VanGroll, Freedom Elementary
Honorable Mention: Kristy Lee, Schofield Elementary
Honorable Mention: Mary Birkey, Park Falls Elementary

The annual poster contest promotes awareness about missing children and provides an opportunity for children and their families to discuss important safety issues.

Today Director Craig Klyve presented Kassidy with an award recognizing her achievement, along with a U. S. Savings Bond.  Kassidy's poster will be displayed in the Attorney General's office in the State Capitol, and she will be presented with an award by Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen at the State Capitol on May 21, 2009, as part of the annual ceremony recognizing Wisconsin's missing children and adults.  That ceremony is open to the public.

A copy of the agenda for next week's ceremony is available at: