2007 Department of Public Safety Amusement Safety Poster Contest Winners Honored at the State House

Commissioner Thomas G. Gatzunis of the Department of Public Safety (DPS) and the Co-Chairmen of the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security, State Representative Michael A. Costello and State Senator Jarrett T. Barrios, honored 17 students as the winners of the 2007 DPS Amusement Safety Poster Contest at a ceremony held at the State House on June 20, 2007. The students, who attended grades 1-6 in communities throughout the Commonwealth during the 2006-2007 school year, were recognized for their outstanding contest submissions that emphasize amusement park and carnival safety.

"The contest was designed to prompt discussions about safety among families as summer outings take place to amusement parks and carnivals," said DPS Commissioner Thomas Gatzunis. "It is important to be safe while having fun. These posters are excellent reminders that riders and operators need to partner and keep safety in mind before, during, and after the ride."

"This is a great way to get kids thinking about safety at an early age," said Rep. Costello. "I thank the commissioner for sponsoring the event and I enjoyed meeting the winners and seeing their winning designs," he added.

During the ceremony, Commissioner Gatzunis presented the students with United States Savings Bonds. In addition, select submissions from the winning posters will be included in the 2008 DPS Amusement Safety Calendar. Also in attendance were the students' families, as well as legislators that represent the students' communities who presented the students with citations from the General Court.

Massachusetts is recognized as the national leader in amusement ride safety. The DPS oversees and regulates amusement devices throughout the state; licenses owners; and inspects and grants permits for individual devices in amusement parks, carnivals and go-kart facilities, as well as large and small inflatables rented frequently for town fairs and private parties. During 2006, DPS issued 124 licenses and inspected 3,368 individual devices.

Below, please find a list of the names, hometowns, and schools of the students that submitted winning entries:

	Place	Applicant	City/Town	School
	1	Brite Chuang	Canton	Dean S. Luce Elementary School
Group 1 Winners - (Grade 1-2)
	Place	Applicant	City/Town	School
	1	Constantine G. Razis	Newton	Franklin School
	2	Jordan L. Shea	Halifax	Community Christian Academy - Home School
	3	James M. Shea	Halifax	Community Christian Academy - Home School
	4	Tanner DeMaggio	Hanson	South Shore Charter Public School
	5	Robert Proude	Holbrook	South Shore Charter Public School
Group 2 Winners - (Grade 3-4)
	Place	Applicant	City/Town	School
	1	Sullivan H. Quaile	Hingham	W.L. Foster Elementary School
	2	Alanna Stevens - Gregory LeMasurier	Dracut	Brookside Elementary School
	3	Trey C. Allen	Southbridge	West Street School
	4	Hanna Caisse	Westminister	Westminister Elementary School
	5	Michael D. Razis	Newton	Franklin School
Group 3 Winners - (Grade 5-6)
	Place	Applicant	City/Town	School
	1	Katherine Zavez	Winchester	McCall Middle School
	2	Catherine Etienne	Hyannis	Barnstable Horace Mann Charter School
	3	Felicia D. Lee	Canton	Lt. Peter M. Hansen School
	4	Serra Kim	Chestnut Hill	Edith C. Baker
	5	Maya M. Ambady	Winchester	McCall Middle School