CBI announces winning posters for National Missing Children’s Day contest
Mason McCarthy's winning poster for CBI's National Missing Children's Day poster contest. Though the fifth-grade student's poster didn't win the national contest, it awed the judges of the state competition. Mason's artwork amazed all the participating voters this year with such a moving message in reference to the theme "Bringing Our Missing Children Home," CBI said in a press release.
Courtesy of the Colorado Bureau of Investigation
A fifth-grade student from Douglas County won first-place recognition for the Colorado Bureau of Investigation’s (CBI) National Missing Children’s Day poster contest.
The annual poster contest, held by the CBI and the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) since 2014, aims to celebrate those who work to find missing children, increase safety awareness and start discussions amongst young students throughout the state.
All fifth-grade contestants were asked to draw a poster with the theme “Bringing Our Missing Children Home” at the beginning of 2024.
Mason McCarthy from Global Village Academy in Douglas County won this year’s contest with his poster, illustrating a child holding a hand out with the words “Please help me,” written on it, according to a news release from CBI.
“This year’s artwork shows the talent of our youth in Colorado and how evocative images can provide a critical voice to this community issue that effects far too many,” CBI Director Chris Schaefer said in the release.
More than 359,000 children were reported missing in 2022, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s National Crime Information Center.
“Law enforcement, citizens and even children have been instrumental in keeping children safe and returning them home to their families, communities and schools,” CBI said in the release.
The poster coincides with National Missing Children’s Day — an annual event since 1983 — that’s held on Saturday, May 25.
Because McCarthy’s poster won the state competition, it was submitted to the national competition in Washington D.C. where, unfortunately, it did not place.
Jaden Vera of Carbon Valley Academy in Frederick won second place in this year’s contest. Daniela Sanchez of McGraw Elementary in Fort Collins and Brynn Stulp of the Holly School District in Holly tied for third place.
