The Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth (OCCY) is excited to invite fifth-grade students across the state to participate in the U.S. Department of Justice’s National Missing Children’s Day Poster Contest. This annual contest offers young artists a chance to create a powerful message about the importance of bringing missing children home while showcasing their creativity.
Theme and Rules:
The 2025 contest theme is “Bringing Our Missing Children Home”, a message that must appear somewhere on the submitted poster. Fifth graders are encouraged to depict the theme using original artwork. Posters may incorporate a variety of media, including acrylics, watercolor, pencil, charcoal, markers, crayons, or pastels. However, digitally produced images, collages, cutouts, and stampings are not eligible.
To ensure uniformity, posters must adhere to the following guidelines:
- Participants must be in the 5th grade.
- Poster dimensions must be 8 ½ x 14 inches.
- Each submission must be accompanied by a completed application, which includes a description of the poster and a brief biography of the artist.
Submission Deadline:
All posters must be received by the OCCY no later than February 21, 2025.
Judging: State-level judging will occur by February 26, 2025, and one winning poster will be selected to represent Oklahoma in the national contest.
National Contest Submission: The state winner’s poster will be submitted to the National Missing Children’s Day Poster Contest by February 28, 2025.
Notification of National Winner: The national winner will be notified by April 2025.
Why Participate?
The contest not only highlights an important cause but also offers an extraordinary opportunity for the winning artist and their family. The national contest winner, along with their parents/guardians and teacher, will be awarded a trip to Washington, D.C., to participate in the National Missing Children’s Day ceremony.
How to Enter:
Fifth graders interested in participating should work with their parents, guardians, or teachers to complete their poster and application. Submissions must be sent to the Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth at:
Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth
Attn: Payton Marr
2915 N. Classen Boulevard, Suite 300
Oklahoma City, OK 73106
For inspiration, participants can view previous winning entries by visiting the Featured Resources section at ncjtc.org/mcd.
Let your creativity shine while spreading awareness for this critical cause. We look forward to seeing your original artwork and sharing the message: “Bringing Our Missing Children Home.”