Three St. Francis Xavier students win statewide earthquake poster contest

SIKESTON -- Three students from Saint Francis Xavier School in Sikeston are this year's statewide winners of Missouri's earthquake awareness poster contest.

Third grader Isabella Guzman, fourth grader Bella-Ruth Steward and fifth grader Julia Spurlock took the top prizes in their grades for their posters showing the best way for people to protect themselves in an earthquake. The three were recognized during a ceremony at the school on Friday.

State Emergency Management Agency and the Missouri Seismic Safety Commission sponsored the "Show-Me ShakeOut" Poster Contest to promote Earthquake Awareness Month, which is held each February in the state.

Earthquake Program Manager Steve Besemer said this was the first time all three top winners of the contest came from the same school.

"It's a way for us to teach a different audience about earthquake safety," Besemer said about the poster contest.

The contest is also held to promote participation in the annual Great Central U.S. ShakeOut, a multi-state earthquake drill that will be held this October.

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