The Arizona Diamondbacks and the Arizona Department of Health Services are sponsoring a poster-drawing contest for students to increase awareness about sun safety and skin cancer prevention. Please have your students draw pictures that show ways to prevent skin cancer -- like wearing a wide-brimmed hat, using sunscreen and wearing long-sleeved shirts and pants. Contest entry forms and rules are provided below.

All drawings must be received by the Department by 5 p.m. on Friday, May 2, 2008. The winning artwork will be professionally reproduced for use in the health department’s SunWise Skin Cancer Prevention Program.

First prize is six tickets to the Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Oakland A's Play Smart When It Comes to the Sun baseball game in Phoenix on Tuesday, June 17, 2008 for the winning artist and his or her teacher. The winning artist will receive an on-field award and have his/her picture taken with D. Baxter the Bobcat.

There will be 50 semi-finalists, with at least two semi-finalists selected from each grade level. The posters will be judged by a panel of D-backs players’ wives who will then select 50 semi-finalist posters. Every student who submits a poster will receive a personalized thank-you certificate.

Click here for official contest rules.

Click here to download an entry form.

Click here for a simple Tip Sheet to use in class to brainstorm poster ideas and to send home with students.

Questions can be directed to Arizona SunWise Coordinator Sharon McKenna at 602-364-3143 or 800-367-6412 or e-mail: mckenns@azdhs.gov.

Get FREE SunWise activities and UV stuff at: www.azdhs.gov/phs/sunwise.