(New York, NY – September 18, 2018) Family Travel Forum (FTF) and its travel industry partners congratulate the winners of the 2018 FTF Teen Travel Writing Scholarship. Completing its 12th year, this annual merit scholarship has been hosted by the award-winning vacation guide publisher to promote teen literacy and reward teens’ best travel blogs with cash prizes for college or future travels.
Between May 1 and July 9, 2018, over 2,000 students in US, Canada, American-International schools or home-schools applied to blog about a travel experience, whether near or far, that had a meaningful impact.
The generous sponsorship of Allianz Global Assistance USA, ScholarTrips, Travel Media Showcase, TMS Family Travel, Society of American Travel Writers (SATW), CityPASS and Lonely Planet made the 12th annual scholarship possible.
“We are honored to be one of the sponsors of the 12th annual FTF Teen Travel Writing Scholarship,” said Daniel Durazo, director of marketing and communications for Allianz Global Assistance USA. “Providing students with an opportunity to learn through travel creates greater opportunities for them to succeed in life and have a better understanding of global cultures and ideas. Allianz Global Assistance is dedicated to protecting and helping travelers wherever they may go.”
“We’re also happy to be able to help students explore their world and we’re thrilled to support both the FTF Teen Travel Writing Scholarship and our very own ScholarTrips program,” Durazo adds.
FTF Senior Editor Fran Falkin said “Year after year we are impressed by the student’s eloquence, their vivid descriptions of nature, appreciation of cultural diversity and thoughtful observations about human interactions. We are also extremely appreciative of our sponsors for their sustaining support. It is very gratifying to acknowledge this impressive work and know we’ve encouraged more than 55,000 teens over the years to share their travels.”
Preliminary rounds of judging were done by FTF interns and staff. Winners were selected from the top 1% by a team of professional educators from the Journalism Education Association (JEA), writers from SATW, and representatives from the Society of Professional Journalists, and Tourism Cares, the charitable arm of the travel and tourism industry. Finalist essays were judged on creativity and eloquence; a sense of place; emotional impact; vocabulary and style; and grammar, punctuation and spelling.
We congratulate the winners of the 2018 Family Travel Forum Teen Travel Writing Scholarship and thank all bloggers for submitting such great work.
2018 FTF TEEN TRAVEL WRITING SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS:
Winners receive a cash stipend plus a GoPro Travel Bag:
1st Place – $1,000
“Breathtaking Burials: Bogus or Believable?,” by Irene Yi, Central High School, Grand Rapids, MI
2nd Place – $500
“A Leopard’s Way,” by Kathryn Ribbens,” Cole Valley Christian Schools, Meridian, ID
3rd Place – $250
“Reflections on Omaha Beach,” by Ian Hubbard, Hampton Bays High School, Hampton Bays, NY
2018 FTF TEEN TRAVEL WRITING SCHOLARSHIP HONORABLE MENTIONS:
Honorees receive a Certificate of Commendation and a subscription to Lonely Planet Magazine:
“Go Play In The Snow!,” by Zoie Buske, Harmony School of Advancement, Houston, TX
“International Mafia,” by Ali Cohen, Chandler Preparatory Academy, Chandler, AZ
“California Dreams,” by Daman Cusick, Bowling Green High School, Bowling Green, KY
“Savor(y) Switzerland,” by Elizabeth Goldin, Highland Park High School, Highland Park, IL
“Da Vinci Day,” by Lesharyn Jackson, West Career & Technical Academy, Las Vegas, NV
“My Guatemala,” by Ruby Johnston, Santa Cruz High School, Santa Cruz, CA
“A Picture Into the Past,” by Jola Laguda, Quincy High School, Quincy, MA
“An Unexpected Village Dance Party,” by Joshua Leong, McLean High School, McLean, VA
“Peace Train,” by Brooke Mickle, Westlake High School, Austin, TX
“Home Is Where You Park It,” by Olivia Morrison, Morrison Home School, Bedford, NH
“The Philippines: Living in a Childhood That Was Never Mine,” by Alana Ordonez, Harker Heights High School, Harker Heights, TX
“A Winding Road,” by Giselle Pfaeffle, Patrick Henry High School, Roanoke, VA
“Mississippian Ripples,” by Brenna Salverson, Dunlap High School, Dunlap, IL
“Creature of the Coast,” by Mia Shipp, Vandebilt Catholic High School, Houma, LA
“At Home, Three Thousand Miles Away,” by Madeline Short, Goffstown High School, Goffstown, NH
“The Moment I Was Aware of A Cruel World,” by Grace Smart, Los Osos High School, Rancho Cucamonga, CA
“The Treasures Concealed by Mesas of Arizona,” by Hope Stevenson, Carl Sandberg High School, Orland Park, IL
“Get Lost: How A GPS Error Led Me to the Beauty of Alexandria, VA,” by Riley Sutherland, Liberty North High School, Liberty, MO
“The Feast,” by Birukti Tsige, Malden High School, Malden, MA
“Santiago’s Tears Of Joy,” by Hunton Warren, St. Mary’s School, Raleigh, NC
About Family Travel Forum
Family Travel Forum has been the trusted vacation planning resource for global travel with kids and grandkids since 1996. FTF’s expert and community content has been seen on Disney’s Family.com and other sites, in “America’s Most Popular Family Vacations,” “The Complete Idiot’s Guide to the Best Family Destinations,” “Amazing Places to Take Your Kids in North America” and by millions of traveling families. In addition to co-hosting the annual TMS Family Travel Summit and conferences, FTF ventures include the “The Family Vacationist” blog and e-alert; and Family Travel Consulting to the trade in partnership with Taking the Kids.
About Allianz Global Assistance
Operating in 34 countries, Allianz Global Assistance is a leading insurance and assistance company that provides insurance to 35 million U.S. customers annually. The company is best known for its Allianz Travel Insurance plans, which protect travelers from unexpected trip cancellations or losses while traveling. Plans are available in annual or per trip coverage. The company’s partners include leading travel agencies, airlines and other travel suppliers. Allianz Global Assistance also supports student travel by providing merit scholarships through their ScholarTrips essay contest. Since 2017, ScholarTrips has given over $175,000 in scholarships to hundreds of students who have realized their dream of international travel.
About TTW Travel Industry Partners
Travel Media Showcase and TMS Family Travel, divisions of J. Vero & Associates, are designed to bring together leading print and broadcast travel media with tourism representatives from around the world to showcase new regions for media to cover, and connect destinations with qualified leads. The Society of American Travel Writers, a tax-exempt, professional association established in 1955, includes journalists, editors, photographers, filmmakers, bloggers, and communications professionals who specialize in the travel industry.
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Contact: Fran Falkin
Email: FTFstaff @familytravelforum.com
Thanks to our 2018 Scholarship Sponsors!
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Great advice. I took my girls to camp, and it was an amazing experience for all of us, as I had never been to camp as a child.
Luxembourg is well known for its cultural life and traditions. It is one of the most popular tourist attractions. So if you want to explore this city, rent a car, take a map and go places.Luxembourg Car hire will offer a wide variety of cars to suit your rental preferences.
Is that for real? That is the most beautiful thing that I ever seen. Really great. I think the first picture is really exotic. You still have time to capture this photo during your day? Awesome.
Yes nice place for faimly vacation
You explain your trip so wonderfully that i decided to go for it with my family on coming weekend.
Although it might a be a good time to go in winter, I prefer Vancouver in Winter days!!
Thanks very much for these tips, they are really helpful for me!!
Being a Harry Potter fan, I guess I will have to go to Great Britain to explore more….
Thanks for informative and helpful post, obviously in your blog everything is good.If you post informative comments on blogs there is always the chance that actual humans will click through.
With that smartphone that we have we'll be able to communicate with all the people around us. This make our life easier and we stay connected even we are live in other place or even in another country.
Ohh nice movie to watch with faimly..
The type of travel chronicled here might be too hardcore for most families, but this kind of travel could offer a greater bonding experience. There are several Guide services that run this river in rafts. making it much easier and safer for families.
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I think that it could be nice to take advantage of insider tips, and since I'm also planning a trip it is very tempting for me to explore this website even more.
I really enjoyed this post and Thanx for the effort, keep up the good work Great work.
JW Marriott has the distinction of excellence and I suspect that this location is no different to the other Marriott owned hotels and resorts.
Thanks for taking the time to discuss this, I feel strongly about it and love learning more on this topic. If possible, as you gain expertise, would you mind updating your blog with more information? as it is extremely helpful for me.
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On June 4, 2011, American Hiking Society’s National Trails Day will bring together outdoor enthusiasts across the country for the 19th annual celebration of America's magnificent trail system and its countless supporters and volunteers.
See http://www.AmericanHiking.org for details on one of the 2,000 events near you.
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Colombia is a great country. We have a very rich and diverse culture. It is a modern city where you can find everything you would in any other touristic spot. Bogota has lots of museums, parks, and universities, thus it is called "The Athens of South America". Everyone is so welcome to come!
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Hi; We are looking to do a family reunion this summer for 20 adults and 13 kids. The last two weeks in July are the best weeks. We are looking at a 5 to 7 day stay. Do you have any availability?
Thanks
Tom
Wow! My girls thought the dog sledding looked really cool and the cable gliding too. Wish we were there with you guys!
Cybele
Yeah.. Its great i am planning for my next vacation and it's looking that i am at the right place.
omg
how fabulous
I really enjoyed this article. As a cold weather hating person in a family split between winter/summer weather lovers, this article and video have inspired me. The cold stuff actually looks FUN for once, and the water park at the end will make up for it in case it's not… Thanx for the tip off!
Railing across Europe is the only way to travel! Convenient, cheap, and easy with kids!
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What a great story about the butterfly hatching; that is so much like the Belizean love for nature.
I love this place too. It is unique and quiet, and with so much to do. Menno was great–he knows so much about the medicinal plants and that knowledge is disappearing from many of the caribbean Islands. In some it has been actively discouraged by telling people it is "black magic." Pharmaceutical business interests guarding a monopoly more likely.
Has anyone been back since Tomas in Oct. 2010? I have a few articles on my HubPages site, but from before the destruction of Hurricane Tomas.
Great page! That is what I need. Thanks very much!
Look….How cute he is looking Mikel …..We Really missed him.
Hey, great blog…but I don’t understand how to add your site in my rss reader. Can you Help me, please
Upon checking in, a staff member brought us a little box house with a pupa, which would hopefully hatch into a butterfly during our stay, and which we were instructed to set free
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This is insanely beautiful! I regret so much that I've missed it!!!
You have a very inspiring way of exploring and sharing your thoughts. It is very uncommon nowadays, lots of sites and blogs having copy pasted or rewritten info. But here, no doubt, info is original and very well structured. It is just an amazing piece of work, which motivates me to read more and more of your. Awesome!
I couldn’t agree more with this article, these days holidays are really a luxury and by vacationing in a place like New Rock City will keep the kids wildly entertained but won’t hurt the wallet.
When you are taking in the sights in Barcelona city go to the Carrer de l'Hospital road and there is a Tapas bar there that welcomes kids. From there all other attractions are within walking distance.
2011 and there is still fantastic bargains across the world. Regardless of budget and type of travel there is something for everyone.
Go to http://www.ridebrightside.com and discover Barcelona cruising on a Sidecar motorcycle!
Your private guide will take you on an amazing journey into the city’s famous attractions, the authentic Mediterranean lifestyle and hidden secrets, away from the touristic areas.
The Aegean is spectacular. It is really amazing to see so many blindingly white buildings that have such striking historic relevance in Mykonos.
The Aegean is amazing! The white buildings of Mykonos will blind you on a sunny day and the elegance and age of it is truly spectacular.
What a special gift to take your grand children on a cruise and show them such striking destinations.
I have been through the whole content of this blog which is very informative and knowledgeable stuff, So i would like to visit again.
Your idea to post the required documents information for the 10 most popular travel countries is a great one, but unfortunately, that information might change depending on where the family was coming from and going to each of those 10 countries.
For American citizens, the U.S. Dept of State website at http://travel.state.gov is still the best and most up to date resource, as you can search their Country Guides for the one you will be visiting, and read the latest regulations.
Citizens of other countries should check their own foreign ministry to determine what is required in terms of visa and childrens permission documents.
I would have to admit that any location in South America is a great option for a family vacation. The lifestyle, the culture, the weather and the variety of activities will leave you all wanting more.
I like this direct no nonsense article and it is accurate and how it should be. I just hope this is taken seriously in all countries.
Great story, going to bring my daughter up now!