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04/28/2005 - Romig Middle School Student Wins Trivia Contest

News Release

Anchorage, Alaska – (April 28, 2005)

Romig Student Wins 2005 Wild About Anchorage Trivia Contest

How many weeks of summer are left after the fireweed is in full bloom? What does the Athabascan word Talkeetna mean? How many moose call Anchorage home? Amazingly enough, a lot of middle school students in Anchorage know the answers to these questions (the answers are six weeks, River of Plenty and 2,400 moose). Samantha McNelly of Romig Middle School knew the answer to more of these questions than other junior high students in Anchorage, and was recently named the winner of the Anchorage Convention & Visitors Bureau (ACVB) 14th annual Born to be Wild About Anchorage Trivia Contest.

“This contest is a great way for students to learn more about their city and to gain some pride in our city as a visitor destination,” said Julie Saupe, ACVB vice president Community, Member & Visitor Relations. “The students also gain valuable business and organizational skills by working with ACVB as a business partner.”

Eight middle schools fielded teams for this year’s contest including teams from Wendler, Mears, Hanshew, Gruening, Goldenview, Clark, Romig and Central Middle Schools. The Central Jazz band provided entertainment and Weatherman Cary Carrigan of KIMO-TV served as moderator for the event. Judges, who were chosen and recruited by the students, included Scott and Stu of KGOT Radio, Alaska Pacific University Nordic Skier and Olympian, Kikkan Randall, and Andrea Sturr, the 2004 trivia contest winner.

Students in teacher Janna Walker’s class at Central Middle School worked for four months to organize the contest and handled all aspects of the event including booking facilities at the William A. Egan Civic and Convention Center, acting as the ACVB critters, serving as photographers, timekeepers and event planners and inviting the media to come cover the contest. ACVB members provided a variety of prizes – from hotel stays and restaurant gift certificates to an ice cream party for the winning school.

This is the second year that a student from Romig Middle School won the contest. McNelly received a trophy, a night’s stay at the Aspen Hotel, a dog sled ride from Iditarod Sled Dog Tours in Seward, a gift certificate to Snow City Café and an ice cream party from Tastee Freeze for her class. McNelly will be introduced at ACVB’s member luncheon on May 19, 2005, at the Anchorage Marriott Downtown.

The Anchorage Convention & Visitors Bureau’s mission is to attract and serve visitors to the Municipality of Anchorage. ACVB’s marketing functions are funded by half of the bed tax collected by the lodging association. The other half goes to the Municipality’s general fund. ACVB receives no state or federal funds. For more information, explore www.Anchorage.net.

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Media Contacts:

Erika Siegel
Public Relations Manager
toll free: (800) 446-5352 x 331
direct: (907) 257-2331
esiegel@anchorage.net

Nance Larsen, APR
Director of Communications
toll free: (800) 446-5352 x 310
direct: (907) 257-2310
nlarsen@anchorage.net