Students Can Win A Ride In A Hot Air Balloon!
March 2, 2015
PNC BANK, BALLOON FESTIVAL ENCOURAGE STUDENTS TO WRITE ABOUT THE AMERICAN FLAG
READINGTON, NJ – This contest’s grand prize rises above all others.
The QuickChek New Jersey Festival of Ballooning and PNC Bank are once again inviting New Jersey students in grades 2 through 12 to take part in the 12th annual PNC Bank “American Patriot Essay Contest” by writing a short essay on the topic “What the American Flag Means to Me.”
The Grand Prize winner will receive a visit to his or her school by a gigantic, 75-foot-tall hot air balloon in June and a special VIP package at this year’s balloon festival in July: a hot air balloon ride for two, four Blue Sky Club VIP tickets, and the opportunity to meet one of this year’s concert headliners, which in the past have included rising teen sensations the Jonas Brothers and Demi Lovato.
Last year’s award presentation was broadcast live on the PIX11 Morning News.
The winning student’s immediate classmates will each receive one complimentary general admission ticket to the 33rd annual QuickChek New Jersey Festival of Ballooning in Association with PNC Bank, the largest summertime hot air balloon and music festival in North America, July 24-25-26, 2015 at Solberg Airport in Readington.
The winning student’s teacher and school principal will each receive two Blue Sky Club VIP tickets. Second and third place prizes consisting of Festival admission and merchandise will be also awarded.
All teachers in the state who submit a group of 15 essays or more on behalf of their students will receive two free general admission tickets to the Festival regardless of whether one of their students submits the winning essay.
“We want to thank all of the educators who encourage their students to enter this contest,” said Festival Executive Producer Howard Freeman. “Each year we receive heartwarming essays on how the American Flag reminds a child of a loved one, serves as an inspiration during times of hardship, or raises their spirits during their everyday lives.”
“It is always inspiring to see America’s past, present and future brought vividly to life in the essays we receive each year in our PNC American Patriot essay contest,” said Joseph Whall, PNC Senior Vice President & Director of Client and Community Relations.
The essays must be 100 words or less. They will be judged by a panel of representatives from PNC Bank and the balloon festival. Winning essays will be selected based on creativity, poignancy and clarity with consideration given to the grade level of the contestant. Contestants are not required to be U.S. citizens.
Entries should be submitted by May 1, 2015 to Essay Judges, QuickChek New Jersey Festival of Ballooning, 363 Route 46 West, Suite 200, Fairfield, NJ, 07004. Students can also enter the contest through the Festival website at www.balloonfestival.com or by emailing their essays to [email protected] Entries should include the student’s name, home or school address, home or school telephone number, grade, age, school name and the name of their teacher.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Russ Mensch
Mensch & Company, Inc.
Public Relations & Event Marketing
phone: 201-797-2448
email: [email protected]
