2006 High School Challenge
Ashlee Hess

The 2006 AAA Travel High School Challenge has concluded with the winner coming from Massachusetts. AAA Central Penn awarded a gift certificate for membership/renewal and a bag filled with essentials for college life to the students in the territory with the top three scores.

Congratulations to Maulik Shah of Hershey High School, Chelsey Jordan of Lampeter-Strasburg High School and Christopher Dennis of Penn Manor High School.

More than just a geography contest, this scholarship program tests students’ travel literacy by focusing on tourism destinations. The Travel Challenge encourages participants to study geography and to consider careers in the travel and tourism industry. Designed by travel industry educator Dr. Marc Mancini and sponsored by AAA partners, the challenge is a three-stage competition open to ninth-through 12th-grade public, private and home-schooled students throughout the United States. This year’s sponsors included Holland America Line, Universal Orlando, Pleasant Holidays, Marriott, Continental Airlines, MBNA America and Hard Rock Live Orlando.

Each January eligible students log on to aaa.com/travelchallenge to take the online test. Each is given 20 minutes to answer 40 questions. Scores are compiled and the top five scores are named state finalists. These five students take a second test. The top score is named state champion. The Pennsylvania finalists for 2006 were Jonathan Barrett, Wexford; Christopher Bahur, Pittsburgh; Everett deVries, Somerset; Gordon Vanscoy, Irwin; and Olivia Colangelo, Murrysville, who was named state champion.

Fifty-one champions competed at Universal Orlando from May 13-16. Individual winners who received $25,000, $15,000 and $5,000, respectively were: Karan Takhar of North Attleboro, Mass.; Akshay Buddiga of Colorado Springs, Colo.; Matthew Alexander of Pepper Pikem, Ohio, and Alexander King of Newcastle, Wash. (tie for third place).

The 2007 Challenge will begin in January. Visit aaa.com/travelchallenge for more information.