As far as the safety drawing contest sponsored by Xcel Energy is concerned, Bangor’s Kellen Kravik is in some pretty select company.

Each year Xcel goes through approximately 2,000 artwork submissions from students in eight Midwestern states. Thirteen drawings are selected for Xcel Energy’s company calendar — one for the cover and one for each month of the year.

Kellen’s drawing, which had to have a theme relating to electrical safety, was not only the only one chosen from Wisconsin chosen for the calendar — it was the only one of the 13 drawn by a boy.

Kellen’s feat completely surprised his mother, Roxanne, even though she knew he liked to draw. “I was shocked — I didn’t even know that he had entered,” Roxanne said.

Kellen learned of his selection the night before the final day of school. “My teacher, Mrs. Regan, called me up,” Kellen recalled.

“Kellen was so excited. He had a grin plastered on his face,” his mother said.

The call came before the awards ceremony on the last day of school. Mike Herro, community service manager for Xcel, showed up to present Kellen with a slew of prizes for being one of the artists chosen for the calendar.

Kellen made quite a haul that day: “I won a whole backpack, a stuffed animal (a falcon), a fanny pack with a radio and a calculator, a pen, a letter opener, a mouse pad, a flashlight, a lunch box and a frame you can put your picture in,” he said.

Herro noted the calendar contest has recently expanded to eight states. “That makes this a little more special — and it was pretty cool that he was the only guy out of the 13 artists,” Herro said.

Herro said the calendar is for company use and is not sold to the general public. The Kraviks, however, will get an extra dozen or so calendars to commemorate Kellen’s achievement.

Contact Michael Martin at mike.martin@lee.net or 786-6813.