CHARLESTON, W.Va. –  An Upshur County student’s artwork will appear in a 2019 calendar distributed statewide by the State Fire Marshal’s Office.

Braylee Cannady, a second grader at Buckhannon Academy Elementary School, was one of the 13 students whose work was selected to appear in the calendar.

Nearly 150 West Virginia schoolchildren submitted artwork for the State Fire Marshal’s third annual Fire Safety Poster Contest, with the students winning spots in a 2019 wall calendar that will be distributed statewide.

Sponsored by the State Fire Marshal’s Office, the poster contest encourages all West Virginia students in kindergarten through fifth grade to submit their own fire safety message-themed posters. The contest continues to gain in popularity, with the number of participants increasing to 148 students representing 15 counties.

This year’s judges were State Superintendent of Schools Steven L. Paine, Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety Secretary Jeff Sandy, and Executive Assistant to the First Lady Vicki Shannon. The Fire Marshal’s Office is part of Military Affairs and Public Safety.

Kindergartener Easton Kramerick of Wayne Elementary Schoolin Wayne County submitted the top entry. The judges selected his poster art for the calendar’s cover as well as for October, during which National Fire Prevention Week takes place.

The remaining months will feature artwork from the 11 other students who received honorable mention:

Kindergarten:
Jonah Stump, Meadows Elementary, Cabell County.

First Grade:
Elizabeth (Libby) Greene, Paden City Elementary, Wetzel County.
Brenleigh Haga, Ridgeview Elementary, Raleigh County.

Second Grade:
Emma Sollars, Mason Dixon Elementary, Monongalia County.
Braylee Cannady, Buckhannon Academy Elementary, Upshur County.

Third Grade:
Samantha Meadows, Athens Elementary, Mercer County.
Rylee Renner, Belmont Elementary, Pleasants County.

Fourth Grade:
Gavin Prinzbach Athens Elementary, Mercer County.
Leilianny Gonzalez, Driswood Elementary, Jefferson County.

Fifth Grade:
Alexa Maher, Greenmont Elementary, Wood County.
Jan David Deleon, Stanaford Elementary, Raleigh County.

State Fire Marshal Ken Tyree says: “With this being the third year for this contest, I’m so pleased with this opportunity to see the artistic talent and learned knowledge of the students who’ve participated.  Student participation again has increased. I thank all who have encouraged and supported our fire safety awareness effort.”

Marshal Tyree will also be visiting every winner at their respective schools in the very near future.

The 2017 contest drew 108 poster entries from 33 counties.