SATW FTF TEEN TRAVEL BLOGGER WINNERS
The Society of American Travel Writers (SATW), in association with the Family Travel Forum (FTF) announced the winners for the 5th annual FTF Teen Travel Blogger Scholarships.
CONTACT: Bobby Zafarnia, 202-277-0800 babak.zafarnia@praecere.com
November 16, 2011
MILWAUKEE, WI – The Society of American Travel Writers (SATW), in association with Family Travel Forum (FTF), the award-winning online resource for family vacation information, are proud to announce winners of the 5th annual FTF Teen Travel Writing Scholarship. The contest encourages teens to share travel experiences in words and images, and nearly 6,000 students ages 13 to 18 applied for this merit scholarship. They blogged about a range of experiences from service trips to journeys to re-connect with their own heritage; from exploring nature to those that focused on cultural immersion.
“The future of travel writing and photography is best represented by the winners of this year’s
contest,” said SATW President Dale Leatherman. “The combination of education, adventure,
and scholarship is a fantastic formula for young travelers, and we are honored to continue
SATW’s relationship with the Family Travel Forum.”
“Family Travel Forum is proud to support the work of young travel bloggers with scholarships
and grants,” says FTF editor Kyle McCarthy. “We know sharing their work in our online
communities is educational, and we hope it inspires the next generation of world travelers.”
This year’s top winners are:
1st Place:
Alli Sarazen, Manchester,NH
“And So Our Circle Grew: My First African Morning”
2nd Place:
Lauren Pey, San Anselmo, CA
“Trash Talk”
3rd Place:
Paroma Chakravarty, Atlanta, GA
“The Road to Lonavala”
Photography
Christopher James Bennett, El Cerrito, CA
“Reconnecting with a Friend”
Film
Allie Chandler, Clearwater, FL
“The Roman Equation
Entries were submitted between May 1 and August 1, 2011. The contest is open to students
ages 13 to 18 enrolled in junior high, high school, or homeschool programs in the U.S., Canada,
or American school internationally. Students were asked to submit a maximum 600-word essay
on any type or aspect of a trip taken in the last five years, accompanied by a photo or video.
Cash scholarship grants of $1,000 for 1st place, $500 for 2nd, and $200 for 3rd are given to the
top three authors, with SATW providing program funding. Also, 25 Honorable Mention essay
winners are chosen, each receiving writing journals and pens provided by National Geographic
Kids plus passes to any Ripley’s Believe It Or Not! museum. Winners of the Best Photography
and Best Video categories each receive a $150 photography equipment merchandise gift
certificate from SATW. The winning essays and photography are posted on the FTF site at
www.MyFamilyTravels.com and SATW site at www.satw.org.
This year’s SATW Finalist Judges:
- Julie Agnone, Vice President for National Geographic Kids, which publishes National Geographic Kids magazine for ages 6-14 and National Geographic Little Kids for preschoolers.
- Kenneth Shapiro, Editor-in-Chief of TravelAge West and Editor-in-Chief of Family Getaways
- John MacDonald, writes a regular “senior travel” column for the Philadelphia Inquirer, former editor of Seattle Times and a SATW Senior member.
- Laurie Borman, past SATW president whose work has appeared in the Chicago Tribune, AOL Travel, Dallas Morning News, and the Philadelphia Inquirer among other publications and online media, and is former editorial director of Rand McNally and also served as Editor-in-Chief of Endless Vacation magazine.
SATW Photography/Video Judges:
- Chad Case, photographer for National Geographic Adventure, National Geographic Traveler, New York Times, and other high-profile magazines.
- Cosmo Condina of Getty Images, Alamy, SuperStock, Mira Images, and other top travel photography stock companies.
Semi-finalist judges include:
- Ray Chatelin
- Jerry Morris
- Judith Morgan
- Julie Wilson
- Louise Weiss
- Jennifer Quale
- Victor Zak
- Yoram Kahana
- Aaron Cushman
SATW’s membership includes writers, editors, photographers, journalists, filmmakers, and
communications professionals who specialize in the travel industry. SATW promotes
responsible journalism, provides professional support and development for its members, and
encourages the conservation and preservation of travel resources worldwide. To learn more
about the Society, please visit www.satw.org.
