COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

P.O. BOX 2120

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA 23218-2120

PRINS. MEMO NO. 3

January 22, 2008

ELEMENTARY/MIDDLE/SECONDARY

TO:	Principals
FROM:	Linda M. Wallinger Assistant Superintendent for Instruction
SUBJECT:	Panasonic Academic Challenge

The Panasonic Academic Challenge, an academic national high school competition, will occur June 7-10, 2008, at Disney’s Contemporary Resort Convention Center in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, to mark the 21^st anniversary of the Panasonic Academic Challenge. One team of six high school students and their coach will be selected to represent each state, U.S. territory, and the District of Columbia. Members of the first-, second-, and third-place teams will receive scholarships funded by the Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company.

The organizers of the Panasonic Academic Challenge are willing to work with schools and school divisions that may be interested in competing to represent Virginia. The Panasonic Academic Challenge will send contest information directly to the gifted education coordinators in each Virginia school division. For further information, contact Peggy Harrod, Panasonic Academic Challenge tournament director, by telephone at (863) 968-5168, by fax at (863) 968-5169, or by e-mail at peggy.harrod@polk-fl.net. For additional information about this competition, go to the Panasonic Academic Challenge Web site at www.polk-fl.net/students/academiccompetitions/panasonic/default.htm.

Additional information is available from Cheryle C. Gardner, principal specialist of fine arts, Office of Middle and High School Instruction, by telephone at (804) 225-2881, or by e-mail at Cherry.Gardner@doe.virginia.gov.

LW/CCG