News for February 15
| Five Rhode Island Students Show Off Travel Knowledge and Advance In Annual AAA Scholarship Contest (posted by Public Affairs on February 15 @ 09:40 ) |
| Five Rhode Island high school students have advanced as state finalists in the AAA Travel High School Challenge. The students will match travel wits and destination knowledge against each other in the state finals next month to win a trip to Orlando, Florida, to compete for up to $20,000 in scholarships in the national finals. The state finalists are: Jordan Schwartz of East Providence, Grade 9, Our Lady of Fatima High School Eric Shim of Wakefield, Grade 10, South Kingstown High School Daniel Olson of Cranston, Grade 11, Cranston High School West Ajay Marken of East Greenwich, Grade 12, East Greenwich High School Samantha Berger of Ashaway, Grade 12, Chariho High School “These students are at the head of the class with their knowledge of travel and tourism topics like culture, transportation and geography,” said William Sutherland, Vice President of Travel for AAA Southern New England. “Their interest in the world around them will help them succeed as adults. We’re excited that one of them will represent Rhode Island in the national finals.” The students advanced to the state finals by placing among Rhode Island’s top five scorers on an online test in January. In early March, they will take a 40-question, written, proctored exam testing their travel and destination knowledge. The highest scorer is crowned state champion. The state champion and a chaperone will receive an expense-paid trip to Universal Orlando to compete against winners from every state and Washington, DC in the national finals May 19-22. The finals begin with a written elimination exam, followed by an individual playoff competition. The first place winner will receive a $20,000 scholarship, with second and third place finishers receiving $10,000 and $5,000, respectively. Surveys consistently show American students lag behind their global peers in their knowledge of geography and world events. The contest seeks to raise students’ interest in travel geography by focusing, in part, on one aspect that captures many students’ interest: travel and tourist destinations. In addition, participants who express an interest in travel industry careers are also eligible for special scholarships that will pay for travel-related courses of study. As a leader in the travel industry, AAA depends on travel-savvy employees to serve its members and travel agency customers. The contest is in its fifth year. Corporate sponsors for the AAA Travel High School Challenge include Bank of America, Continental Airlines, Hard Rock Live, Marriott, Pleasant Holidays, and Universal Orlando. |
| Five Massachusetts Students Show Off Travel Knowledge and Advance In Annual AAA Scholarship Contest (posted by Public Affairs on February 15 @ 09:37 ) |
| Five Massachusetts high school students have advanced as state finalists in the AAA Travel High School Challenge. The students will match travel wits and destination knowledge against each other in the state finals next month to win a trip to Orlando, Florida, to compete for up to $20,000 in scholarships in the national finals. The state finalists are: Dante Smith of Andover, Grade 11, St. John’s Preparatory School Symin Charpentier of Holyoke, Grade 12, Wilbraham and Monson Academy Michael Fox of Sharon, Grade 12, Sharon High School Eric Durell of Plympton, Grade 12, Thayer Academy Peter Wentzell of Westborough, Grade 12, Westborough High School “These students are at the head of the class with their knowledge of travel and tourism topics like culture, transportation and geography,” said William Sutherland, Vice President of Travel for AAA Southern New England. “Their interest in the world around them will help them succeed as adults. We’re excited that one of them will represent Massachusetts in the national finals.” The students advanced to the state finals by placing among the top five Massachusetts scorers on an online test in January. In early March, they will take a 40-question, written, proctored exam testing their travel and destination knowledge. The highest scorer is crowned state champion. The state champion and a chaperone will receive an expense-paid trip to Universal Orlando to compete against winners from every state and Washington, DC in the national finals May 19-22. The finals begin with a written elimination exam, followed by an individual playoff competition. The first place winner will receive a $20,000 scholarship, with second and third place finishers receiving $10,000 and $5,000, respectively. Surveys consistently show American students lag behind their global peers in their knowledge of geography and world events. The contest seeks to raise students’ interest in travel geography by focusing, in part, on one aspect that captures many students’ interest: travel and tourist destinations. In addition, participants who express an interest in travel industry careers are also eligible for special scholarships that will pay for travel-related courses of study. As a leader in the travel industry, AAA depends on travel-savvy employees to serve its members and travel agency customers. The contest is in its fifth year. Corporate sponsors for the AAA Travel High School Challenge include Bank of America, Continental Airlines, Hard Rock Live, Marriott, Pleasant Holidays, and Universal Orlando. |