Carson Valley Middle School student Chris Rowe took top honors in the National Radon Poster Contest, while fellow Nevada students Logan Beier of Coral Academy of Science in Reno and Marcellus Brown of Leavitt Middle School in Las Vegas also placed in the top 10 in the national contest. Rowe received $1,000 for taking first in the national contest with his poster, "Uncle Radon."

"We are thrilled that not only did we have the national winner, but that all three of our top posters were in the top 10 finalists," said Susan Howe, Nevada Radon Education Program director. "Having all three in the top 10 was an honor."

University of Nevada Cooperative Extension's Radon Education Program conducts the Nevada Radon Poster Contest each year to educate students and their families on the dangers of radon in the home, and to encourage Nevadans to test their homes for radon, a radioactive, colorless, odorless and tasteless gas that comes from the ground. Radon can accumulate in homes and can cause lung cancer.

The National Radon Poster Contest is sponsored by the American Lung Association, Conference of Radiation Control Program Directors, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. In addition to the $1,000 national first-prize money, Rowe will receive $75 for taking first place in the statewide contest.

His teacher, Lin Falkner, will receive $50 for the statewide first place honors to use for classroom supplies. They will receive their awards following an educational presentation on the dangers of radon at 6 p.m., Jan. 27 at the CVIC Hall, 1604 Esmeralda Ave. in Gardnerville.

Beier and Brown will also receive cash prizes for their second- and third-place posters in the statewide contest, as will their teachers, Suellen Johnson and Dawn Dodsworth, respectively. Beier took second with his poster, "Don't Let Radon Beat Up Your Lungs," and received his award at a ceremony on Jan. 20. Brown placed third with his poster, "Radon Can Cause Lung Cancer," and will receive his award at a ceremony on Jan. 30 at the Centennial Hills Library, 6711 N. Buffalo Drive in Las Vegas after a radon presentation at 10:30 a.m.

This is the seventh year that the Nevada Radon Education Program has participated in the Radon Poster Contest that is open to children, ages 9 to 14. The contest is sponsored by the Nevada Radon Education Program, University of Nevada Cooperative Extension, the Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

This year's Nevada Radon Poster Contest had 249 entries. Posters were judged on accuracy of information, visual communication of the topic, reproducibility and originality. Voting for the contest took place on the Nevada Radon Education's Facebook page; and by polling of Cooperative Extension faculty and staff, representatives from the Radiation Control Program of the Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health, Nevada radon industry professionals, representatives from the Nevada Radon Education Program and other stakeholders.

The Nevada Radon Education Program is a program of University of Nevada Cooperative Extension and is funded by the Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health. Since the program began in 2007, more than 21,000 homes have been tested in Nevada. Free test kits are available at Cooperative Extension offices and partner locations throughout the state until the end of February.