Hyundai Announces Winners of the 'Mash And Seek' Challenge
In Less than 18 Hours, Four Strangers From Across the Nation Use Technology to Find Teammates
FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., May 31 -- In a sign of today's highly connected society, four randomly selected strangers from across the country found each other in less than 18 hours to win the Hyundai "Mash and Seek" Challenge, each earning a brand new 2007 Hyundai Elantra. Sixteen finalists were drawn from a pool of online entries collected in March and April and placed in teams of four. On April 30, armed with only a single photo -- a collage of teammates' facial features -- each individual raced to find their teammates. With limited direction, the winning team each migrated to online resources such as MySpace (http://www.myspace.com/mashandseek), Blog Spot, and Craig's List, to identify each other.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070531/LATH045)
The winning team was comprised of:
1. Shane Dixon - Atlanta, Ga. (http://www.myspace.com/mashandseek)
2. Young Woo - Henryville, Penn. (http://www.mashandseekteam4.com/)
3. Kareem Tyson - St. Paul, Minn.
(http://www.myspace.com/hyundai_mash_seek_team4)
4. Paul Stanosheck - Odell, Neb.
(http://www.myspace.com/mashandseekteamfour)
"I really enjoyed this game, and preferred it to the general drawings and sweepstakes that most companies offer," said Paul Stanosheck. "It is rare to find a game or competition that uses your brain and plays upon the use of innovation and technology."
"It's crazy to think that we found each other so quickly!" said Kareem Tyson. "I posted on a blog that wrote an article about the competition back in March in hopes of someone finding me ... and two of my team members responded within hours [of the beginning of the competition]."
"I posted a Craig's List ad for New York, D.C. and other major cities across the United States, bought a Google ad and set up a website (http://www.mashandseekteam4.com/) ... I tried every online outlet imaginable," said Young Woo.
"I don't know if something like this could have been possible a decade ago," said Shane Dixon. "It's amazing to think that technology makes this all possible."
"The speed at which the contestants were able to find one-another is a true testament to the power of the Internet and how connected we all are," said Kathy Faith, national manager of Experiential Marketing, Hyundai Motor America. "We are thrilled to award the four winners for their quick 'smart thinking' and use of technology."
HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA
Hyundai Motor America, headquartered in Fountain Valley, Calif., is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Co. of Korea. Hyundai vehicles are distributed throughout the United States by Hyundai Motor America and are sold and serviced through more than 750 dealerships nationwide.
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