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New York State announces winners of online safety poster contest

Led by the state technology office, the program is designed to raise awareness of cybersecurity issues among students.
winning poster
Poster by Meredith Roberts, Grade 5

How educators can spread cybersecurity awareness in schools has become an important conversation, which is why New York state government announced Tuesday the winners of the statewide poster competition aimed at engaging K-12 students with cybersecurity issues.

Held annually by the NYS Office of Information Technology Services since 2005, the contest challenged K-12 students to think about online safety and creatively illustrate cybersecurity issues in ways that would resonate with their peers and spread the word about dangers online.

“With technology so easily accessible for today’s children, we must increase our efforts to educate young people about the importance of cyber safety,” said state Chief Information Officer Robert H. Samson, in a press release. “The New York State Safe Online Poster Contest is one way to help raise awareness about the many risks associated with being online,” he said.

Out of more than 500 entries submitted from 85 schools across New York, ITS selected 12 winners to have their artwork featured in the 2020 New York State Kids Safe Online Calendar, according to the technology office. Winners will also receive a New York State certificate.

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Thomas Duffy, an MS-ISAC executive and competition partner, said that the poster contest was successful in educating students and spreading cybersecurity awareness.

“Everyone is a winner in the Kids Safe Online Poster Contest,” Duffy said. “Each participant, and those who view the winning entries and calendars, have a better understanding of how to stay safe online.”

The 2018-2019 New York State Poster Contest winners:

Grade K – 2

Anabelle Choez – P.S. 12 James B. Colgate, District 24

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Wilber Cordova – Evergreen Charter School

Aaron Gonzales – Hampton Street School, Mineola Public Schools

poster

Poster by Anabelle Choez, Grade 2

Grade 3 – 5

Meredith Roberts – North Tonawanda Intermediate School, North Tonawanda City School District

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Ashley Torres – P.S. 12 James B. Colgate, District 24

Dylan Vecchiarello – Cherokee Street Elementary School, Connetquot Central School District

poster

Poster by Dylan Vecchiarello, Grade 4

Grade 6 – 8

Marcella Codd – The Epiphany School, Archdiocese of New York

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Helee Shukla – New Hyde Park Elementary, Sewanhaka Central School District

Angelina V.

poster

Poster by Helee Shukla, Grade 8

Grade 9 – 12

Danielle Henneborn – Walt Whitman High School, South Huntington Union Free School District

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Emily Kanouff – Falconer Central School District

Megan Ung – Brooklyn Technical High School, District 13

poster

Poster by Danielle Henneborn, Grade 12

More winning posters can be found on the website for the New York State Office of Information Technology Services.

Betsy Foresman

Written by Betsy Foresman

Betsy Foresman was an education reporter for EdScoop from 2018 through early 2021, where she wrote about the virtues and challenges of innovative technology solutions used in higher education and K-12 spaces. Foresman also covered local government IT for StateScoop, on occasion. Foresman graduated from Texas Christian University in 2018 — go Frogs! — with a BA in journalism and psychology. During her senior year, she worked as an intern at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C., and moved back to the capital after completing her degree because, like Shrek, she feels most at home in the swamp. Foresman previously worked at Scoop News Group as an editorial fellow.

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