Meet the Winners of New York State's "Kids Safe Online" Poster Contest

 

Albany, NY – The New York State Office of Information Technology Services (ITS) today announced the 12 winners of the New York State “Kids Safe Online” Poster Contest. The 12 winners were selected from more than 2,000 entries, submitted by 233 schools from across New York State.

The goal of the contest, held annually since 2005, is to educate students about cyber security by encouraging them to creatively depict what cyber security means to them and to reinforce safe online practices through their artwork. The contest also serves as a tool to encourage teachers across New York State to address cyber security and online safety issues like cyber bullying, the appropriate use of text messages, and social networking in the classroom.

The contest hosted in partnership with the Center for Internet Security’s (CIS) Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center’s (MS-ISAC) national poster contest, was open to New York State students in kindergarten through 12th grade. With technology at the fingertips of today’s youth and cyber awareness becoming more prevalent, the number of submissions more than quadrupled from a year ago. Last year, 442 entries were received from school-aged children across the State.

“We are pleased to partner with the MS-ISAC on this important initiative to raise awareness among our youth of the risks associated with using the Internet. The Kids Safe Online Poster Contest is a wonderful opportunity for teachers to address cyber security and online safety issues in the classroom and raise awareness of these issues in homes. We are continually amazed by the creativity, originality and compelling messages submitted by the students on the importance of cyber security. Kudos to all of the winners!” said Margaret Miller, New York State Chief Information Officer.

“Everyone is a winner in the Kids Safe Online poster contest. Each participant, and those who view the winning entries and the calendars, have a better understanding of how to stay safe online,” said Thomas Duffy, CIS Chair of the MS-ISAC and Senior Vice President of Operations and Services.

The winners’ art work will be featured in the 2018 New York State “Kids Safe Online” Calendar. Winners will also receive a New York State certificate. In addition, the winning entries have been submitted to the National K-12 Poster Contest, conducted by the CIS’s MS-ISAC.

Congratulations to the 2016-17 New York State Poster Contest Winners:

Grade K – 2

Khloe Jenkins – Belfast Central School District

Maleeah Joseph – New York City District #22

Sofia Banifatemi – Clarence Central School District

Grade 3 – 5

Braydi O’Donnell – New York City District #31

Yu Wei Chi – New York City District #24

Jameson Wu – Connetquot Central School District

Grade 6 – 8

Kierra Schager – Schalmont Central School District

Lucy Kohl – Bemus Point Central School District

Ivy Newman – Miller Place Union Free School District

Grade 9 - 12

Nelson Carpio – Yonkers Public Schools

Amber Getty – Fort Ann Central School District and Washington Saratoga Warren Hamilton Essex (WSWHE) BOCES

Chrystelle Gooding – Sacred Heart Academy of Hempstead

The annual state contest, which helps to garner awareness about safe online practices in schools, is administered by ITS. The Enterprise Information Security Office within ITS is responsible for protecting the state government's cyber security infrastructure and providing statewide coordination of policies, standards, and programs relating to cyber security.

For more information on the New York State Kids Safe Online Poster Contest or for additional information on how to stay safe from cyber threats, please visit https://its.ny.gov/keeping-kids-safe.

Source: The New York State Office of Information Technology Services