Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner Ralph Hudgens today announced the winners of the annual “Life, Fire and Safety Awards.” In conjunction with the observance of National Fire Prevention Month, Commissioner Hudgens recognizes Georgia students for their winning entries in his statewide Fire Safety Poster and Essay contests. The awards presentation will be held on October 26, at the Monroe County Conference Center in Forsyth, Ga., beginning at 11 a.m.

“Every year, my office honor those students who take fire safety seriously enough to teach others through creative art and writing,” Commissioner Hudgens said. “I am proud of these students for making a personal effort to improve fire safety for all Georgians.”

Students in the poster and essays contests were required to reflect this year’s Fire Prevention Month theme, “Every Second Counts: Plan Two Ways Out!” in the entries they submitted.

First‐place winners of the Fire Safety Poster Contest open to all students from grades Kindergarten through fifth were:

- Kindergarten Anzleigh Griffis Appling Co. Primary Appling Co.

- First Grade Julia Dorando Sugarmill Elementary Camden Co.

- Second Grade Ann Marie Adams Wheeler Co. Elementary Wheeler Co.

- Third Grade Alyssa Guerrero East Newton Elementary Newton Co.

- Fourth Grade Gabrielle Rangel East Newton Elementary Newton Co.

- Fifth Grade Anaya Brown Bleckley Co. Elementary Bleckley Co.

First‐place winners of the Fire Safety Essay open to all students from grades six through 12 were:

- Sixth Grade De'Nisejah Watkins Faith Christian Academy Lamar Co.

- Seventh Grade Michael Wright Faith Christian Academy Lamar Co.

- Eighth Grade Evan Danner Bleckley Co. Middle School Bleckley Co.

- Ninth Grade Jozelyn Brinson Effingham College Career Academy Effingham Co.

- Tenth Grade Kenneth Garrick Newton College & Career Academy Newton Co.

- Eleventh Grade Kaitlin Ritch Faith Christian Academy Lamar Co.

- Twelfth Grade Diego Monterrosas Newton College & Career Academy Newton Co.

Winners of the 2018 Fire Prevention Week Calendar Winners were:

- Cover Konner Smith Wheeler Co. Elementary Wheeler Co.

- January Sofia Rodriguez Oakcliff Theme School DeKalb Co.

- February Jacqueline Ferreras Ruiz Oakcliff Theme School DeKalb Co.

- March Logan Moses Harmony Elementary Walton Co.

- April Isvel Adan‐Nunez Oakcliff Theme DeKalb Co.

- May Allison Wilkins Bleckley Co. Elementary Bleckley Co.

- June Nicole Garcia Quintana Oakcliff Theme DeKalb Co.

- July Nyssa Taulkder Oakcliff Theme DeKalb Co.

- August Kaylie Lazo Oakcliff Theme DeKalb Co.

- September Arely Contreras Oakcliff Theme DeKalb Co.

- October Melanie Jimenez Oakcliff Theme DeKalb Co.

- November Lily Smith Oakcliff Theme DeKalb Co.

- December Ellen Arnold Bleckley Co. Elementary Bleckley Co.

First place winners of the Fire Safety House Essay Contest, which was open to all students from Kindergarten to Fifth Grade, were second graders Ebitimi Dorgu and Samuel Secora of Smiley Elementary School, in Long County.