A fire prevention poster created by Southgate Elementary School fourth grader Rachel Kuhnke has been chosen as the first place Junior Poster winner in the Minnesota State Fire Chiefs Association Fire Prevention Poster Contest.

Rachel’s poster was locally selected and submitted to the state contest in December 2017. Approximately 435 fourth grade students from Banfield, Neveln, Southgate, Sumner and Pacelli elementary schools participated in the contest.

Her poster is entitled, “Every Second Counts, Plan 2 Ways Out!” and displays a family escape plan from a home in case of fire.

Rachel’s gold win was celebrated at Southgate on Tuesday during a fourth grade assembly. She was presented with a letter of congratulations and a check for $75 from the state association; a first-place ribbon, and a copy of the Minnesota Fire Chief magazine, in which her poster was featured.

Conducting the presentation was Austin Fire Chief Jim McCoy and Fire Inspector Tim Hansen.

Rachel is the daughter of Laura and Kyle Kuhnke.