Hispanic college student video contest by United

United Airlines and Hispanic education organization sponsor video contest on Latin America

CHICAGO, Il -- United, a wholly owned subsidiary of United Continental Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: UAL), and the Adelante! U.S. Education Leadership Fund today announced their 2011 video contest, "Destino: Latinoamerica" ("Destination: Latin America"), for Hispanic college students. 

To enter, students must submit a two-to-three-minute video highlighting five reasons to visit one of the Latin American or Caribbean countries where United flies. The first-place winner will receive four tickets good for travel to any United destination in the continental U.S., Mexico, Central America or the Caribbean. The second-place video maker will get two tickets.  

"Latin America and the Caribbean are major markets for United as we focus on our expanded global network," said John Slater, United's vice president of sales-Americas. "Our goal is for 'Destino: Latinoamerica' to increase Hispanic college students' awareness of the cultural, historical and commercial ties between the U.S. and Latin America and the Caribbean – knowledge that will serve them well for careers in a global marketplace." 

The deadline for the video submission is May 27.  Videos, which may be submitted in English or Spanish, must be no more than three minutes long. Videos will be judged on clarity of expression, originality and creativity.  Winners will be announced at Adelante's! Leadership Institute for Hispanic college students in San Antonio, Texas, on Oct. 17; the first-place entry will be posted on the Adelante! website and YouTube page (http://www.youtube.com/user/AdelanteFund).

"The 'Destino: Latinoamerica' video contest gives students a great opportunity to see a part of the world with similar cultures and ancestry to their own," said Jay Zambrano, executive director, Adelante! Fund, whose mission is to increase Hispanic college graduation rates.  "We hope that the travel experience can lead to a better understanding of themselves, plus a stronger connection to their own backgrounds." 

Prior to the merger, Continental Airlines sponsored "Destino: Latinoamerica" since 2007. The contest is open to legal U.S. residents of Hispanic descent currently enrolled in college.  Participants must have at least a 3.0 GPA. Videos should be sent on DVD with supporting documents (name, address, telephone, college, major, date of graduation, proof of enrollment and GPA) to Sarah Ramos, Program Coordinator, Adelante! U.S. Education Fund, "Destino: Latinoamerica," 8415 Datapoint Drive, Ste. 400, San Antonio, Texas 78229.  

United also provides tickets for 10 Adelante! scholarship recipients from around the U.S. to attend the organization's October Leadership Institute in San Antonio.

"The Adelante! Fund is preparing the next generation of Latino leaders with the knowledge, skills, mindsets, and dedication needed to succeed in the corporate world and beyond," Zambrano added.

SOURCE United