LANSING — The Michigan State Police Missing Persons Coordination Unit is inviting fifth-grade students statewide to participate in the 2018 National Missing Children’s Day poster contest.

The annual contest creates an opportunity to promote child safety while discussing the issue of missing and/or exploited children. More than 1,000 children are reported missing each week in Michigan.

Michigan’s winning artist will have a shot at the national contest, which includes a free trip to Washington, D.C. The winner’s artwork will be featured as the National Missing Children’s Day poster.

The 2015 national winner was a Michigan student from Grand Blanc.

Contest rules are as follows:

• Applicants must be in the fifth grade

• Original artwork should reflect the theme “Bring Our Missing Children Home,” and the phrase must appear somewhere on the poster

• Digitally produced images, collages, cut-outs and stamping will not be eligible for consideration

• The finished poster must measure 8.5-by-14 inches

The poster must be submitted with a completed application, which includes a description of the artwork and a brief biography of the artist, either written or typed. Submissions are due by Jan. 31, 2018, and must be mailed to:

Michigan State Police

Missing Children’s Clearinghouse

Attn: Ms. Jolene Hardesty

7150 Harris Drive

Dimondale, MI 48821