A Three Rivers elementary school student has won the Midwest Energy & Communications (MEC) Electrical Safety Poster Contest for 2024, Three Rivers Community Schools (TRCS) announced Wednesday.

“A BIG Congratulations to Colton S. from Ruth Hoppin Elementary for winning the MEC Electrical Safety Poster Contest,” TRCS said in a Facebook post. “Colton was the overall billboard winner, and his artwork will be displayed on the billboard located at South Main Street, by Bell Road, starting July 1st.”

MEC’s free hotline demostrations teach local fourth graders about the dangers of electricity. As part of those demonstration, students are asked to create a poster that illustrates something they learned.

Two overall winners, one from southwest Michigan and one from southeast Michigan, will have their messages shared on billboards. The winners also get a pizza party for their classroom and their teachers receive an Amazon gift card for classroom supplies.

The MEC hosts free electrical and propane safety demonstrations for any group or organization throughout the year. For more information, contact the community relations team at 800-492-5989 or [email protected].