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For immediate release
August 2, 2000

 For more information contact:
Tina Bruno@ 210-479-3106

 Calling All High School Juniors & Seniors

(San Antonio)  As school bells ring earlier in Texas than in many parts of the nation this August, Texans for a Traditional School Year is offering high school juniors and seniors the chance to tell how they would benefit from a longer summer vacation and add $1000.00 to their cash flow.

“By starting school in early August, many Texas students are losing up to three weeks of valuable work time,” said Tina Bruno, the group’s executive director.  “ Many students are working during the summer to put money away for college and personal expenses.  Others don’t have that luxury.  We have a large population of teenagers who are working to help families put food on the table.  Their income is not luxury, it is a necessity and the bloated school calendar is doing nothing but hurting these Texas families.”

The essay contest is open to high school juniors and seniors across the state.  Prizes will be awarded to the first place winner in each Texas Education Service Center as well as first, second and third place state wide.  The state wide first place winner will receive a $1000.00 savings bond, the second place winner a $750.00 savings bond and the third place winner will receive a $500.00 savings bond.  Each first place district winner will also receive a $100 cash prize.

The essay topic is “Benefits of a longer summer vacation” and should not be over 700 words.  Essays will be judged on content as well as spelling, grammar and punctuation.  Essays may be hand or type written and must be postmarked no later than September 1, 2000.  Essays must include author’s name, address and evening telephone number, as well as the name of the Texas Education Service Center for the region in which the applicant lives(school districts will be able to provide students this information).  All essays will become property of Texans for a Traditional School Year and will not be returned.  Mail your entry to Texans for a Traditional School Year, P.O. Box 5434, San Antonio, Texas 78201 Attn: Essay Contest or send them via e-mail to ttsy@satx.rr.com.

Winners will be announced September 18, 2000.  Only winning entries will be notified by mail.  To view the winning essays, log on the Texans for a Traditional School Year web site at www.tradtionalschoolyear.org.

For more information call Texans for a Traditional School Year toll-free at 1-888-571-5311.