CONTACT : Michelle Berrones Communications Coordinator ( 717 ) 234-5941 , ext . 104 mmb @ padental . org
Pennsylvania Dental Association Announces Winners of Annual Statewide Third-Grade Student Poster Contest
HARRISBURG – Third-grader Mateo Cruz of Solomon Plains Elementary School in Wilkes- Barre , Luzerne County will receive a $ 500 prize for winning first place in the Pennsylvania Dental Association ’ s ( PDA ) 2019 National Children ’ s Dental Health Month ( NCDHM ) statewide poster contest .
Mateo ’ s prize-winning entry creatively shows a tooth taking a shower with the headline , “ Up , Down , In Between – Scrub your Teeth to Keep them Clean !” Mateo will be presented with his framed winning poster and $ 500 prize at a school assembly . Both Solomon Plains Elementary School and Mateo ’ s teacher , Ms . Tracey Dlugosh , will also receive prizes of $ 250 each for being part of first place in PDA ’ s contest .
Our second place winner is Sophie Hunt from St . Margaret Mary Elementary School in Dauphin County . Sophie created a space-themed piece “ Welcome to the Molar System ,” and shows that when you take the proper steps , “ Your Teeth are out of this World .” Sophie received a $ 250 prize and a certificate of recognition .
“ Keep Brushing !” says Jailene Martinez , a third grader from Heights Elementary in Wilkes- Barre , who received third place recognition . In Jailene ’ s artwork , she drew a dental office , with three teeth as the patients . One is sadly covered in cavities . Jailene received a $ 100 prize and a certificate of recognition .
The following students were among the statewide Top 10 entries and will receive an Honorable Mention certificate :
• Elijah Vega – Age 8 , Dan Flood Elementary , Wilkes-Barre
• Juleah Byler – Age 9 , Martinsburg Elementary , Martinsburg
• William Brown – Age 9 , Dillsburg Elementary , Dillsburg