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Schools and Organizations Win EPA Sun-Safety Awards

Release Date: 06/21/2005
Contact Information:

Contact: John Millett, 202-564-4355 / millett.john@epa.gov

(06/21/05) Schools and organizations from across the country won EPA awards this week for protecting children from the damaging effects of overexposure to the sun. The third annual SunWise Awards recognize schools and other organizations for extraordinary efforts in teaching sun safety to prevent skin cancer, cataracts, and other health effects caused by too much sun. In the United States, one person dies every hour from melanoma, the most deadly form of skin cancer. With proper sun protection, however, this disease is largely preventable. EPA's SunWise Program enables and encourages K-8 schools, science and children's museums, and other organizations to educate teachers, children and parents about sun protection.

The Helios Award recognizes schools and other organizations for their work changing school policy, involving parents and the community, erecting shade structures on school playgrounds, allowing sun screen to be worn in school and providing sun safety information to the community. The 2005 Helios winners are the Kyrene de la Colina Elementary School in Phoenix, Ariz., Sea Gate Elementary in Naples, Fla. and the Holy Cross Lutheran School in Dallas, Texas.

The Shining Star Award recognizes educators and other proponents of children's health issues who are implementing SunWise in an exemplary way; by reaching a large number of students, reporting Ultraviolet Index data to EPA's Web site, sponsoring poster contests, or developing curriculum. The 2005 Shining Star winners are Clovis High School in Clovis, Calif., Lighthouse Christian Academy in Brandon, Fla., Eagle Point Elementary in Weston, Fla., the Congressional Schools of Virginia in Falls Church, Va., the Evansville Cancer Center in Evansville, Ind. and the McWane Center in Birmingham, Ala.

For more information about the awards and the SunWise program, visit: https://www.epa.gov/sunwise/recipients.html