Teen Superstar Works To Minimize Technology Gap (NAPSA)—Efforts to minimize the technology gap in schools may soon hit the right chord thanks to a partnership that includes teen superstar Jordan Pruitt. Pruitt, whose second album is coming out this summer, is partnering with Samsung’s Hope For Education program, which has provided more than $7 million in Samsung technology and Microsoft software to K-12 schools in the U.S. over the last four years. Also joining the partnership is DIRECTV, Inc., which will provide cash grants and education programming to the winning schools. “Receiving the best education possible has definitely helped get me to where I am today,” said Pruitt. “I encourage all of my fans who want to help better their schools’ technological resources to enter the program’s essay contest and help bridge the technological gap that manyschools face.” The program seeks students who attend schools that lack the funding to purchase the kind of technology necessary to keep them competitive with the rest of the world. Students, parents, teachers, administrators and com- munity members are invited to so Mans 4 Jordan Pruitt is helping to promote an essay contestthat offers an easy way for students to improve the technology in their schools. updates and announcements will be posted. Schools that submit essays have a chance to win the grand prize of over $200,000 in Samsung technology, Microsoft software and the lifetime series of the DIRECTV Goes To School package plus a $5,000 cash grant. Thirty first-prize schools will be awarded over $60,000 in technology, software andthelifetime series of the DIRECTV Goes To School package plus a $1,000 cash grant. The enter 100-word essays in the Hope For Education contest, which runs through Aug. 31, 2008. At www.hopeforeducation.com grand-prize winner will also receive a Jordan Pruitt concert at answers the question: “How has “Friends For Life” program, Sam- you can submit an essay that technology educated you on helping the environment, and how or why has it changed your behavior to be more environmentally friendly?” Students are also encouraged to become “friends” of the Hope For Education pages on social networking sites such as MySpace and Facebook, where program his or her school. In addition, through its sung will provide a classroom assistance dog to a special educa- tion teacher at the grand-prizewinning school. The program pro- vides financial support for the training of special service animals to assist kids and others who, through the use of a dedicated service dog, can lead a betterlife.
