RDK Melanoma Foundation Announces Student Winners In the RDK Kinney Art Contest

The Richard David Kann (RDK) Melanoma Foundation has awarded more than $7,500 in gift-card prizes to students who placed first, second, and third in its annual RDK Kinney Art Contest. Winners were announced on May 5—Melanoma Monday—underscoring the Foundation’s commitment to skin cancer prevention, early detection, and education.

The 2026 RDK Kinney Art Contest invited students across Florida, Pennsylvania and California to explore sun safety through creativity with the theme “Create it, Color it, Share it!” Participants submitted original artwork illustrating important prevention messages, including the widely recognized “Slip, Slop, Slap, Slide” and Seek Shade method—slip on a shirt, slop on sunscreen, slap on a hat, and slide on sunglasses. The contest featured multiple age-based categories, including Primary, Elementary, Middle School, High School, and a Digital Art division, encouraging a wide range of artistic expression. By combining education with creativity, the contest continues to engage young people in meaningful conversations about protecting their skin and reducing the risk of melanoma.

The RDK Kinney Art Contest drew hundreds of entries from students of all ages to consciously recognize the dangers of melanoma and to then create a fun and educational piece of art to share that message. In each of the four grade divisions (K–2, 3-5, 6-8, and 9–12), and the Digital division, first, second, and third-place winners received gift-card awards.

Primary

·1^st Place: Nora McCann-St. Laurentius Catholic School, Philadelphia County, Philadelphia, PA

·2^nd Place: Jack Linscott-Chec the Center & Fusion Enrichment, Boynton Beach, Palm Beach County, FL

·3^rd Place: Annabelle Hernandez-St. Laurentius School for the Arts & Science, Philadelphia County, Philadelphia, PA

Elementary

·1^st Place: Jared Orellana-Abundant Life Christian Academy, Margate, Broward County, FL

·2^nd Place: Valentina Van Der Kamp-Citrus Cove Elementary, Boynton Beach, Palm Beach County, FL

·3^rd Place: Betsaida Tzoc Francisco- Palm Beach Maritime Academy, Lantana, Palm Beach County, FL

Middle School

·1^st Place: Oliver Heizman, The Weiss School, Palm Beach Gardens, Palm Beach County, FL

·2^nd Place: Leah Rettershofer, St. Laurentius Catholic School of Arts & Sciences, Philadelphia County, Philadelphia, PA

·3^rd Place: Mia Krasutskaya- Hollywood Academy of Arts & Sciences, Hollywood, Broward County, FL

High School

·1st place - Keylin Alvarez Diaz - John I Leonard HS, Greenacres, Palm Beach County, FL

·2nd Place - Jenny Salic - John I Leonard HS, Greenacres, Palm Beach County, FL

·3rd Place - Jordan Bisogno - John I Leonard HS, Greenacres, Palm Beach County, FL

Digital

·1st Place - Kleyber Cardona - John I Leonard HS, Greenacres, Palm Beach County, FL

·2nd Place - Valerie Laya - Hollywood Academy of the Arts & Sciences, Hollywood, Broward County, FL

·3rd Place - Layla Rahman - Terrace Community Middle School, Tampa, Hillsborough County, FL

“Creative expression has the power to inspire awareness and spark meaningful change, especially among young people,” said Deborah Kann Schwarzberg, Founder and President of the RDK Melanoma Foundation. “Now in its 26th year, the RDK Kinney Art Contest empowers students to share important messages about skin cancer prevention in ways that resonate. Building sun-safe habits early can make a lifelong difference.”

In the United States, one in five people will develop skin cancer in their lifetime, and just a few severe sunburns before age 18 can more than double the risk of melanoma later in life. Practicing sun-safe habits consistently can significantly reduce that risk.

“Melanoma can be life-threatening, but it is also one of the most preventable and treatable cancers when identified early,” said Marianne Gold, Board Member of the RDK Melanoma Foundation. “Through this contest, we are reinforcing the importance of awareness, prevention, and early detection for future generations.”

As a non-profit organization, RDK Melanoma Foundation’s goal for over 30 years has been to educate all generations on the importance of sunscreen use and sun safe behavior, as well as the importance of early detection.May is Melanoma Awareness Month, and together with the foundation’s new global partner, ISDIN, they remain deeply committed to skin health and inspiring a future without skin cancer.To learn more about how to support vital education programs for prevention and early detection of skin cancer, especially melanoma, please visit www.melanomafoundation.com or www.isdin.com/us.

About the RDK Kinney Art Contest
Established by the RDK Melanoma Foundation, the RDK Kinney Art Contest is held annually to teach students about sun safety through visual storytelling. Named in loving memory of Dr. John Kinney—a former RDK Board Member and passionate advocate for youth education and melanoma prevention—the contest honors his legacy of commitment to public health and sun safety awareness. Winners are announced each year on Melanoma Monday—the first Monday in May—a day dedicated to raising awareness of melanoma prevention and early detection.

About the Richard David Kann Melanoma Foundation
The dedicated Board of RDK, together with the strong support of the community, has provided funding for the Foundation to continue its vision and vital mission of educating people about early skin cancer detection. This initiative encourages individuals to take action for their health and educates both children and adults on how to protect themselves and their loved ones from the dangers of skin cancer.Deborah Kann Schwarzberg founded the RDK Melanoma Foundation with her husband Steve, their sons, their parents, the Katzens, and the Leibovits, in memory of Richard David Kann, who died from a late-detected melanoma at the age of 45.

To learn more about RDK Melanoma Foundation and ways to donate and/or get involved, please visit melanomafoundation.com.