Fossil Ridge students place in national Radon Poster Contest

Left to right: Principal Jonathan Howell, Sofia Hancock (2nd Place), Lexie Tueller (1st Place), Kennis Borrowman (3rd Place), Christie Gubler (Art Teacher) | St. George, Utah, Nov. 18, 2015 | Photo courtesy of David Heaton, St. George News

ST. GEORGE — The Utah Department of Environmental Quality has announced the five Utah student winners for the 2016 National Radon Poster Contest. Among the winners were two sixth-graders from Fossil Ridge Intermediate School in St. George. Environmental health staff from the Southwest Utah Public Health Department presented awards to the students at school Wednesday.

Lexie Tueller won first place in the 4-6 grade division with Sofia Noel Hancock taking second. Each winner will receive $100 along with $100 for their school.

Radon is the second-leading cause of lung cancer behind tobacco. It comes from decaying uranium in the ground. According to radon.utah.gov, 30 percent of Utah homes have unsafe radon levels.

There were over 700 entries from around the state, illustrating the dangers of radon, where it comes from, how it gets into our homes and how residents can test their homes for this invisible, radioactive gas.

“This is the first time we’ve had winners on the state level,” said Shallen Sterner, environmental health scientist at the Southwest Utah health department. “They’ll have the opportunity to meet Governor Herbert in January for Radon Awareness Month. We’re proud to be represented by these students and this school. Another Fossil Ridge student, Kennis Borrowman, also took third place at the local level.”

For more information about radon test kits and mitigation, and to view all winning posters from the contest, go online.

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