Giant-Landover Rolls Out Student Reusable-bag Contest

In celebration of the 50th anniversary of “It’s Academic,” which has been recognized by "The Guinness Book of World Records" as the longest-running TV quiz show in the world, Giant Food LLC is sponsoring a reusable shopping bag design contest. High school students in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C., are eligible to enter from Oct. 1 through Oct. 31. The winning design will be adorn reusable bags sold in Giant stores across the region. Proceeds from sales of the bags will go to the “A+ School Rewards” program, which enhances and supplements schools’ budgets.

“We’ve watched our region’s students excel as they have answered tough questions on ‘It’s Academic’ for years,” said Giant Food president Robin Michel of the show, which airs on WNBC4 in Washington. “Now we’re excited to see their artistic abilities, as they use their talents to create a memorable anniversary bag that shoppers can use to help our environment.”

All entries must fit within a 12-inch-by-12-inch square; incorporate the chain’s four colors of yellow, red, purple, and green (additional colors are allowed); include the program title ‘It’s Academic’; and refer to the 50th anniversary.

As well as having his or her design printed on thousands of reusable bags, the contest winner will receive a $1,500 cash scholarship. Second- and third-place winners will get $750 and $500 cash scholarships, respectively. The winners will be revealed in early December.

To judge the submissions, Giant Food has recruited art professors and art department directors from such schools as Montgomery College, Morgan State University, Northern Virginia Community College, Prince George’s Community College and University of the District of Columbia. The judges will rate designs according to appropriateness to theme, craftsmanship, composition, color combination, and creativity and originality.

All entries must be accompanied by an entry form and e-mailed to [email protected]. Students can find the entry form and complete contest rules at www.giantfood.com/bagcontest.

A division of Ahold USA, Landover, Md.-based Giant Food operates 179 supermarkets in Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, and the District of Columbia, and employs about 22,000 associates.