AAA Texas: Five Texas Students Utilize Travel Knowledge Advancing to State Competition in AAA Travel High School Challenge

Business Wire, Feb 23, 2005

IRVING, Texas -- Whether it's Spring Break on a Hawaiian beach, exploring pyramids in Egypt's Valley of the Kings, or backpacking through Cascades National Park, there's literally an entire world of travel experiences compelling to young people...but only if they're aware of such far-flung destinations and opportunities. Five Texas students have proven their travel knowledge and geographic literacy in the AAA Travel High School Challenge.

Tyler McGaughey, an 11th grade student from Central High School in San Angelo; Bryan Golden, a 12th grade student from Anderson School in Austin; Daniel Gonsalves, a 12th grade student from Langham Creek School in Houston; James Magown, an 11th grade student at Bellaire Senior High School in Bellaire; and, Seth Nelson, a 12th grade student at the Winston School in Coppell have been named the five state finalists to represent Texas in the AAA Travel High School Challenge - a national competition that aims to increase teens' travel knowledge and geographic literacy while creating awareness of career opportunities in the travel and tourism industries.

With more than 63,000 9-12 grade students registered across the country for the online portion of the competition, the students placed among the top five scorers in the state. Between March 1st and 3rd, the five finalists will complete a 40-question written, proctored exam. The top scorer will win an expense-paid trip for two to the national competition in Orlando, Fla., with a chance to win a $25,000 college scholarship.

"As finalists in the AAA Travel High School Challenge, these five students have shown great knowledge of travel and tourism topics including culture, transportation and geography," said Rose Rougeau, spokesperson for AAA Texas. "As Americans and our global neighbors travel in ever-increasing numbers, this is an excellent time for young people with an interest in travel and geography to consider future careers in the travel industry."

The finals will be held from May 7th - 10th at Universal Orlando and will begin with a written elimination exam, followed by a series of round-robin, game show-style playoffs. The top two teams of three will then compete in a final contest, with winning team members each receiving $25,000 scholarships and runners-up receiving $10,000 each.

The AAA Travel High School Challenge, designed by AAA Travel and travel industry educator Dr. Marc Mancini, will award more than $100,000 total in scholarships. Sponsors include: Continental Airlines, Holland America Line, Marriott, MBNA America, Pleasant Holidays Hard Rock Live, and Universal Orlando.

AAA Texas, an affiliate of AAA National, has been serving Texans since 1902. Today, more than a million AAA Texas members benefit from the organization's roadside assistance service, travel agency, financial products, insurance products and services, automotive pricing, buying and financing, trip planning services, and traffic safety programs. Information about these products and services is available on AAA Texas' Web site at www.aaa-texas.com.