Today is Don’t Fry Day – a day established by the National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention to remind people of the importance of sunscreen.  In Arizona, we need more than a day – it is more of a season and now that school’s just about out (or is), kids have more time on their hands for outdoor fun.  The vast majority of a person’s lifetime exposure to the sun occurs by the age of 18- meaning it’s crucial to protect and educate parents and children about common-sense sun safety.  Our SunWise program made YouTube history with its inaugural video contest this year. Junior high and high school students across Arizona were invited to create an original video how to be SunWise when being active outside or making a prom plan not to tan.  Congratulations to 2011 contest winners Anthony Bejarano for his video called When You’re Active Outside, Be SunWise and to Destiny Galindo for her winning video called Make A Prom Plan Not to Tan.

Also, congrats to Joyce Kuang for her winning entry in this year’s poster contest Poster Contest winner. Joyce is a 7th-grade student at Payne Junior High School in Queen Creek. The Arizona Diamondbacks selected her poster from among 6900 entries.  Joyce and teacher Eric Nedow will be celebrated at the Arizona Diamondbacks game on June 15 at Chase Field. Joyce and Mr. Nedow will receive on-field awards, appear on the jumbotron screen, and Joyce’s drawing will be the official SunWise campaign poster for 2011-2012 school year. Congratulations to everyone who entered and to all of this year’s 2011 SunWise Poster Contest Semifinalists.

We hope you enjoy the winning entries as much we do! Learn more about how to protect yourself and family in the sun at www.azdhs.gov/phs/sunwise.