U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell and movie actress Angelina Jolie today presented the fourth annual World Refugee Day poster awards at the National Geographic Society's headquarters in Washington, D.C.

"There is no better way to begin this important event," First Lady Laura Bush told the winners in a taped message about this year's World Refugee Day events.

Jolie is a goodwill ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). She also sponsors the annual poster contest, which encourages U.S. students to think in creative ways about refugees. As many as 40 million people worldwide may be refugees, having fled their home countries to escape danger or persecution.

The U.S. is the largest financial supporter of the UNHCR and some 2.5 million refugees have made their home in the U.S., Bush said. "It is important to make them feel at home," she added. "The President and I are very proud of you," she told the poster competition winners.

Three winners were chosen for their creativity and thoughtfulness in this year's competition. Anna Mullen, a fifth grader from Northwood Elementary School in High Point, North Carolina, won in the 4th-to 6th-grade category. Phoebe Sturey, an eighth grader from Cochranton Middle School in Cochranton, Pennsylvania, won in the 7th-to 8th-grade category, while Tania Ku, a 12th grader from Saratoga High School in Saratoga, California, won in the 9th-to 12th-grade category.

The winners were invited to have their photo taken with Powell and Jolie, and were flown to Washington with their families for the ceremony.

UNHCR leaders and other guests were at National Geographic to celebrate the official launch of World Refugee Day events. In 2000, the UN designated June 20 as annual World Refugee Day to recognize and celebrate the contribution of refugees. More than a hundred countries take part in the event.

World Refugee Day brings worldwide attention to the struggles and challenges that the millions of refugees confront each year throughout the world. During the next few days, various events will reinforce this year's theme, "A Place to Call Home," by emphasizing refugees' challenges relating to identity, community integration, and a sense of belonging.

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SOURCES AND RELATED WEB SITES Australian Government Refugee Review Tribunal United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) American Refugee Committee The Refugee Council, United Kingdom I am David U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Office of Refugee Resettlement