Five Iowa Students Show off Travel Knowledge, Advance in AAA Scholarship Contest
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BURNSVILLE, Minn.--Five Iowa 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, Fla., to compete for up to $20,000 in scholarships in the national finals.
The Iowa finalists are: William Cushman, a 12th grade student at Wahlert Catholic High School in Dubuque; Jacob Huju, a 12th grade student at North High School in Sioux City; Brittni Stille, a 12th grade student at Decorah High School in Decorah; Tim Scholle, a 11th grade student at Cedar Falls High School in Cedar Falls; and Timothy Pearson, a 12th grade student at Ankeny High School in Ankeny.
“These students are at the head of the class with their knowledge of travel and tourism topics like culture, transportation and geography,” said Gail Weinholzer, Director of Public Affairs, AAA Minnesota/Iowa. “Their interest in the world around them will help them succeed as adults. We’re excited that one of them will represent Iowa in the national finals.”
The students advanced to the state finals by placing among Iowa’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, D.C. in the national finals from 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 scholarships, 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.
AAA offers automotive, travel, insurance and financial services to more than 49 million members in the United States and Canada. AAA Minnesota/Iowa is part of The Auto Club Group, with 4.1 million members in eight Midwest states.
