A fifth-grade student from Dacula was the runner up in the Georgia Emergency Management Agency’s (GEMA) National Preparedness Month video, art and essay contest.

Sarah Grace Fanczi, of Puckett's Mill Elementary, placed second with her video entry, “Plan and Prepare.”

The GEMA contest was designed to raise awareness of emergency preparedness and to encourage students and their families to take adequate steps to prepare for disasters, both natural and man-made.

The theme of this year’s contest was “Remember the Past, Get Ready for the Future,” in observance of the 10-year anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks. Students were invited to prepare art, literature or video entries to illustrate or describe how remembering the past can help citizens prepare for the future.

“Each year we are increasingly amazed at how knowledgeable Georgia’s students are about preparing for emergencies and their skill at translating what they know into art form,” said GEMA spokesperson Lisa Janak in a press release. “Not only did the students capture the essential steps to get ready for the unexpected, but they also displayed creative, quality work.  We thought every submission was a remarkable piece, which made it a challenge to select winners.” 

First, second and third place winners in each category will be awarded prize packages from Imagine It! The Children’s Museum of Atlanta, CNN, Chick-fil-A (Chamblee Plaza), Chick-fil-A (Peachtree at Collier), Papa Johns and Ready Georgia corporate sponsor, The Home Depot. 

For more information, visit the Ready Georgia website.