AUBURN HILLS, Mich., April 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- While the next generation of political experts is currently between the ages of nine and 13 and has not yet reached legal voting age, they are already brushing up on American history and have plenty of advice to offer the current and future commanders in chief.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060406/DETH014 )
Nearly 1,000 seventh-grade students from across the country recently shared their political theories and counsel as part of the national "Jeep(R) Commander in History" essay contest. The contest was created to encourage America's youth to take an earnest interest in our nation's deep history and the legacy of our commanders in history, while celebrating the 65th anniversaries of Mount Rushmore National Memorial and the Jeep brand as well as the launch of the all-new 2006 Jeep Commander.
During a surprise assembly today at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic School in Hampshire, Ill., presidential impersonator Theodore Roosevelt, joined by look-a-likes of the three other Mount Rushmore presidents -- George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln -- announced that Nicolette Rizzo was selected as the contest's grand prize winner. Her essay on Roosevelt was chosen for demonstrating thoughtful advice and receiving high marks in creativity, clear content, logical thought and proper use of language. Her advice to current and future commanders in chief references a quote made famous by Roosevelt:
"My advice to our future commander in history is to speak softly and often, be tolerant, have compassion and leave your sticks behind," Rizzo wrote. "War can't be the answer. We must agree to disagree to find other solutions. We must strive for peace and carry no sticks."
As the grand prize winner, Rizzo receives a trip for seven to Mount Rushmore National Memorial during the 65th anniversary year of both the national monument and the Jeep brand.
Additional advice, provided by the budding strategic thinkers and future political advisors included:
"Make it mandatory [that] everyone has to have three hours of community service, that way lazy people would do something once in a while." - M. Meloa, Ft. Myers, Fla.
" ... we should increase history class time in our schools to teach and remind kids about what this country is all about." - A. Bupiui, Phillipsburg, N.J.
"If I had to say one thing to help this country of freedom it would be to have [the] freedom to vote for president [from] ages ten and up ... it's not just adults living in this country, us kids live in this country too. We may not be the brightest, but we have common sense to know what is right or wrong." - E. Flagan, Wilmington, Del.
"I met a lady who told me that we're more like a salad. We are all chopped in together, but we aren't melting into each other. No matter how much you toss us we stay the same." - A. Reinhardt, Queens, N.Y.
As part of the contest, students were also asked to choose the president featured on Mount Rushmore National Memorial who they thought was most influential during his term. More than 43 percent of the 978 students who responded selected Abraham Lincoln, followed by George Washington (23%), Theodore Roosevelt (18%) and Thomas Jefferson (15%). The grand prize winner, Rizzo, chose Roosevelt not only for his environmental policy, but more so for his domestic policy.
From Nov. 7, 2005, through President's Day, Feb. 20, 2006, student essays were submitted by parents, guardians or teachers online at http://www.jeepcommanderinhistory.com/ or via U.S. mail. The first 100 teachers who submitted their students' essays will receive gift certificates to an office supply superstore worth $150. One hundred first prize and 100 second prize student winners will receive Jeep gear.
Survey Says
As part of the contest, the Jeep brand conducted a survey to determine how much, or in this case, how little, Americans know about U.S. presidential history. Results include:
* Nearly 90 percent of Americans cannot name the four presidents featured on Mount Rushmore National Memorial
* Almost one in ten 18-24 year-olds incorrectly named Abraham Lincoln as the first president of the U.S.
* More than half (52%) of respondents did not know that Franklin D. Roosevelt was president for most of World War II
* If given the option, 22 percent of people surveyed chose JFK as the president they would most want to see on Mount Rushmore followed by Ronald Reagan (21%) and Franklin Roosevelt (15%) (Disclaimer: Mount Rushmore National Memorial will never be able to add another president to the monument per an agreement with the family of Gutzon Borglum, the sculptor responsible for the carvings.)
* More than half the respondents (51%) were unable to name Andrew Jackson as the president on the U.S. $20 bill
* More than half (51%) of those surveyed couldn't place the quote "Speak softly, but carry a big stick" with Theodore Roosevelt
Visitors to http://www.jeepcommanderinhistory.com/ can test their presidential knowledge and see how they compare with an online Commander in History quiz.
GoodMind, a New York based research firm, conducted the nine question survey on behalf of Jeep via telephone to access consumer knowledge of Mount Rushmore National Memorial and general presidential trivia.
Jeep Commander
Unlike other SUVs on the road today, the all-new 2006 Jeep Commander is the first seven-passenger 4x4 that is Jeep Trail Rated, and it is the only SUV in its class to offer a choice of two V-8 engines.
The introduction of the Jeep Commander signals the Jeep brand's commitment to remaining the leader in the SUV market, a market that Jeep invented nearly 65 years ago. The Jeep Commander expands and strengthens the Jeep lineup, which consists of Jeep Wrangler, Jeep Liberty, Jeep Grand Cherokee and the all-new 2007 Jeep Compass.
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk,
