Five Teens Win Tire Company Essay Contest

AKRON, Ohio, Sept. 3 -- Five teens have earned the right to travel here and share in the Sept. 5 celebration and christening of The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company's newest airship, the Spirit of America. The teens were selected as national winners in the "Spirit of America Essay Contest." The event will bring together four of these majestic airships for the first time in nearly 40 years. The contest offered youths ages 13 to 15 the opportunity to write a 100 to 350 word essay on "What the Spirit of America Means to Me." Essays were judged on patriotism, originality and creativity.

Essay contest winners are: Lakesha Johnson, 15, Memphis, Tenn.; Joel Kampling, 15, Wichita, Kan.; April Lane, 14, Cordele, Ga.; Amy Myers, 13, Fletcher, Okla.; and Stacie Pack, 14, Atkins, Ark. Honorable mention essays were submitted by: Stephen Detwiler, 14, Akron, Ohio; Nicolas Dominquez, 15, Wichita, Kan.; Danielle Gabordi, 14, Arden, N.C.; Lukas Hawley, 13, Union City, Tenn.; and Brandon Thompson, 14, Cyril, Okla. Winners and their parents or guardians will receive a ride on a Goodyear blimp and a behind-the-scenes tour of the company's Wingfoot Lake airship hangar near Akron. In addition, winners names will be displayed in lights on the side of the airship, and they will receive a $100 U.S. Savings Bond and Goodyear blimp merchandise. The winning essays, along with five honorable mention essays, have been bound in a book, a copy of which will go to each winner and to the library of each winner's school.

"We are delighted with the response we received to the contest and are encouraged by the patriotic spirit of all the young people who submitted essays," said Sam G. Gibara, Goodyear chairman and chief executive officer.

"Launching a new airship is always an exciting occasion for Goodyear. Sharing the christening of the Spirit of America with these inspiring youngsters and their families will make it a truly memorable event," he said.

Goodyear has owned and operated blimps in America since 1925, and for the last 42 years, they have been a familiar sight over America's major sporting and news events while providing aerial views for television audiences around the world.