Fifth-grade student Mahith Surapaneni has won the Kansas Missing Children’s Poster contest. Surapeneni, 10, attends Harmony Elementary School in Overland Park.
The announcement was made by Attorney General Kris Kobach and KBI Director Tony Mattivi announced today. According to the KBI, almost 200 children went missing in the state in 2022 reflecting a growing problem across the country.
The annual statewide competition drew almost 100 entries from 13 schools across the state and is held in recognition of National Missing Children’s Day observed annually on May 25. The 2023 theme is “Bringing Our Missing Children Home.”
The poster contest provides an opportunity for schools, law enforcement and child advocates to discuss the issue of missing and exploited children with youth, parents and guardians and to promote child safety. It also brings attention to the common goal of bringing missing children home safely.
Other top 10 winners can be viewed here:
Mahith’s entry was submitted to represent Kansas in the 40th Annual National Missing Children’s Poster Contest, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Justice.
Mahith’s winning artwork can be found at https://bit.ly/3Hd30Vc.
To search for known missing children, visit the KBI website.
–Dwight Widaman | Metro Voice