World Rabies Day Poster Competition 2025
Building rabies-free communities through creativity in schools
In recognition of World Rabies Day 2025, the Kansas Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (KVDL), in partnership with the Kansas Department of Health and the Environment (KDHE), the One Health Commission Bat Rabies Education Team (BRET), and Bavarian Nordic – are proud to announce its 2nd World Rabies Day Poster Competition for K–12 students across the state of Kansas.
“This builds on the success of the 2023 contest and is part of the global effort to raise awareness for a disease that has been around since time immemorial,” said Dr. Janine Seetahal, director of the Rabies Laboratory in the KVDL. “Students are invited to unleash their creativity while learning about rabies prevention, community responsibility, and the importance of working together to eliminate this deadly disease, which perfectly aligns with the 2025 World Rabies Day theme ‘Act now: you, me, community.’”
This theme, set by the Global Alliance for Rabies Control, focuses on empowering communities to take ownership and action to support rabies prevention and control programs.
“Rabies prevention requires everyone’s involvement,” Dr. Seetahal said. “This contest reflects a united partnership across sectors — public health, veterinary, nonprofit and industry — which exemplifies the kind of teamwork necessary for action.”
Dr. Seetahal said rabies is a 100% preventable disease, yet is estimated to claim about 59,000 human lives and multiple times more animal lives worldwide every year. In the USA, although human cases are much less common, wild animals, such as skunks, raccoons and bats, serve as reservoirs of the virus which can transmit to humans and cause disease. Given that wildlife is an important part of the ecosystem, the key to ensuring both people and wild animals stay safe is education.
“The poster competition will aid in spreading life-saving messages throughout Kansas on the value of reporting suspect animals, responsible pet ownership, rabies vaccination, and safe coexistence with wildlife,” Dr. Seetahal said. “Students will be encouraged to read and research rabies prevention strategies as part of the creative process so that their artwork becomes a tool for self-learning and community education. By engaging the next generation, this initiative will help strengthen community awareness and inspire collective action against rabies.”
The competition further gives children the opportunity to see how their individual actions connect to social responsibility and can forge a collective sense of purpose.
“The competition will empower the next generation with information to become ambassadors for rabies awareness and foster sustainable disease control efforts as advocates for the health of their communities,” Dr. Seetahal said.
World Rabies Day, an annual event observed on September 28, is a global day of action and awareness coordinated by the Global Alliance for Rabies Control and supported by international health organizations such as the WHO, WOAH and FAO. It highlights progress in rabies prevention and calls on individuals and communities worldwide to contribute to the elimination of rabies.
The Kansas State Rabies Laboratory is an internationally recognized laboratory facility dedicated to rabies virus diagnosis, serological testing and research towards the prevention of rabies from various angles. We collaborate with local, national, and international partners to contribute to the global effort to control rabies.
Competition Details
Who can enter: Any K–12 grade school student resident in Kansas
Theme: “Act now: you, me, community”
Posters should highlight how individuals and communities can work together to prevent rabies.
Deadline for entries: January 30th 2026
Prizes & Recognition: Winners will receive Amazon gift cards, prize packages and cash money for their school. Winning entries will also be featured on partner websites, social media, and at World Rabies Day events!
Contest Guidelines
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Posters are to be 8.5 x 11 inches only – Vertical (portrait) orientation is required
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Regular paper or card stock can be used, with any medium for the coloring
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Poster content must be original work and must say something about RABIES
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Kansas students in K-12 are eligible to participate
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Poster submissions must be accompanied with the student’s name, age, and grade as well as the school’s name and address and the teacher’s name and contact information.
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Entries must be received by January 30, 2026. No exceptions.
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Digital art posters and all aforementioned information must be uploaded, in PDF format, by a school staff member
Upload Posters Submissions HereUpload Posters Submissions Here https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSer6Y-mSr3WnIRIZUMpxsqVv3fAy2BFFF0N0uvMPhUfF52U0w/viewform?usp=header Y -
Non-digital art posters and all aforementioned information should be mailed to: Kansas State University Rabies Laboratory, 2005 Research Park Circle, Manhattan, KS, 66502. Labelled: Poster Competition. Attention Dr. Janine Seetahal.
Non-digital art posters will not be returned. For this reason, digital submissions are highly encouraged. -
Posters will be graded on creativity, originality and aesthetically pleasing visual design. Posters will be graded on creativity, originality and aesthetically pleasing visual design. Winners will be announced on March 3, 2026 (World Wildlife Day). Winning posters will be featured on the website of the Kansas Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (KVDL) Rabies Laboratory and be incorporated into future rabies events hosted by the KVDL, KDHE and the One Health Commission.
- Prizes will be awarded according to the categories listed below.
Prizes by Grade Category
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Kindergarten – Grade 2 |
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|---|---|
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1st prize |
$800 will be donated to the school Student will receive a $50 Amazon gift card and Prize Package. |
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2nd prize |
$400 will be donated to the school. Student will receive a $25 Amazon gift card and Prize Package. |
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3rd prize |
$200 will be donated to the school. Student will receive a $25 Amazon gift card and Prize Package. |
|
Grade 3 – 5 |
|
|
1st prize |
$800 will be donated to the school. Student will receive a $50 Amazon gift card and Prize Package. |
|
2nd prize |
$400 will be donated to the school. Student will receive a $25 Amazon gift card and Prize Package. |
|
3rd prize |
$200 will be donated to the school. Student will receive a $25 Amazon gift card and Prize Package. |
|
Grade 6 – 8 |
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1st prize |
$900 will be donated to the school. Student will receive a $100 Amazon gift card and Prize Package. |
| 2nd prize |
$500 will be donated to the school. Student will receive a $50 Amazon gift card and Prize Package. |
| 3rd prize |
$300 will be donated to the school. Student will receive a $50 Amazon gift card and Prize Package. |
| Grade 9 – 12 | |
| 1st prize |
$1,000 will be donated to the school. Student will receive a $150 Amazon gift card and Prize Package |
| 2nd prize |
$600 will be donated to the school. Student will receive a $75 Amazon gift card and Prize Package. |
| 3rd prize |
$400 will be donated to the school. Student will receive a $75 Amazon gift card and Prize Package. |
*Prizes donated by Bavarian Nordic, KVDL and KDHE
Rules and Disclaimer
Only submit one entry per person. Participant must live in the state of Kansas, United States. Do not submit images that may infringe any copyright or other proprietary rights. By submitting your poster, you agree to grant the KVDL, KDHE and the One Health Commission a non-exclusive license to reproduce, use, display, and distribute your poster without regard to any copyright, trademark service mark, patent, trade secret, or other proprietary rights you may have in such information. You agree we may use your poster on our social media and web platforms for the purpose of educating the public about rabies. The KVDL, KDHE and the One Health Commission assume no responsibility for any republication or other use of your poster by others not under our control. All submitted posters will be reviewed; a submission does not guarantee that a poster will be featured. The organizers reserve the right to decide which posters to post publicly.
Thank you in advance for your participation. We wish all entrants the best of luck! If you have any questions, please email kvdlrabiesposter@vet.k-state.edu.
