GEICO Announces Student Art Competition to Illustrate Correct Use of Car Safety Belts

Entries Will Be Taken Until January 9, 2004 Who Will Be the Next Picasso, Monet, Van Gogh?

WASHINGTON, Oct. 17 -- Students will have a chance to show off their artistic talent and their knowledge of car safety belts by entering GEICO's nationwide poster contest. They can also earn cash prizes for their winning efforts.

Between now and January 9, 2004, students around the country are invited to create a poster that GEICO will use in its annual campaign to call greater attention to the proper use of auto safety belts.

The contest is open to students between the ages of 6 and 15 (as of September 1, 2003). Entries will be judged in three age groups: 6 to 8, 9 to 11, and 12 to 15. Entry forms and contest rules went out this week to principals throughout the U.S.

The grand-prize winner in each age group will have his or her poster printed and distributed to all participating schools and in GEICO offices nationwide. The winning posters will also be featured on the GEICO Web site.

Grand prize winning entries in each age group earn cash awards of $600 for themselves and $500 worth of art supplies for their schools.

First-, second- and third-place prizes of $150, $100, and $50 are also awarded in each of GEICO's eight major regions in each age group.

All students can enter GEICO's national poster competition. Contest entry forms and contest rules appear on GEICO's Web site www.geico.com and students can go to http://geicodirect.com/infocenter/poster.htm for details.

The contest drew more than 1,800 students from across the country last year.

GEICO (Government Employees Insurance Company) is the fifth largest private passenger auto insurer in the United States. It provides auto insurance coverage for more than five million policyholders and insures more than 8.6 million vehicles. GEICO uses television, radio, print media and direct mail to attract customers to call its 1-800-841-3000 number and to its www.geico.com Web site, and keeps its rates low by dealing directly with the customer. GEICO offers sales and claim services 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information, go to www.geico.com.