A Creative Peanut Butter Sandwich Will Help a Child Earn a College Scholarship

ORRVILLE, Ohio, Jan. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- A creative peanut butter sandwich is about to help five aspiring junior chefs pay for college. Now in its eighth year, the "Jif® Most Creative Peanut Butter Sandwich Contest™" continues to encourage hundreds of kid chefs across the country to join their parents in the kitchen and get creative in hopes of earning scholarship money for college.

This year's outstanding recipes have been narrowed down to 10 finalists and now it is up to America to vote for the five aspiring chefs who will make it to the final judging event, and one step closer, to the $25,000 scholarship grand prize. Four runners-up will each receive a $2,500 scholarship fund. To vote, visit www.jif.com from January 14, 2010 through February 10, 2010.  

"Year after year, we continue to be amazed by the innovative recipes that are submitted and this year is no exception," said Maribeth Badertscher, Vice President, Corporate Communications, The J.M. Smucker Company. "This year's outstanding finalists have challenged themselves to think outside of the lunchbox and create delicious, creative recipes that complement the great peanutty taste of Jif Peanut Butter."

The Online Finalists and recipes include:

• West M., 6, Santa Clara, UT - More Rockin' Moroccan Peanutty Pitas
• Lauren W., 9, Waukesha, WI - Peanut Butter and Banana Quesadilla with Fresh Fruit Salsa
• Easton R., 11, Richmond, VA - Berry Peanut Buttery Cinnamon Bun Sandwiches
• Petula G., 10, Chicago, IL - Veggie Sloppy/Sweet Joe
• Stephanie H.,10, Plymouth, MI - Chickenchita
• Maria M., 11,  East Longmeadow, MA - Peanutty Cristo Breakfast Sandwich
• Hannah H., 10, Sammamish, WA - Nutty Texas Panini with a Hula
• Callie M., 10, Poulsbo, WA - The Big Sassy Chicken Satay
• Rachel G., 10, Clovis, CA - PB & Fruity Says "Let Us Rap"
• Ryan J., 7, Yorkville, IL - Crispy Fish Stick Wrap with Peanut Sauce

About the Online Vote

The top 10 sandwich recipes receiving the highest scores from the initial judging round, based on creativity, nutritional balance, taste, appearance and ease of preparation, have been posted to www.jif.com for a chance to become this year's most creative peanut butter sandwich. The online vote round invites people 13 years of age and older (18 or older in Maine) to visit www.jif.com to view photos and recipes for the 10 finalists and vote for the best sandwich. Limit one vote per person/e-mail address per day during the entire online voting period.  Online voting is open from January 14, 2010 through February 10, 2010.  

Online voters are invited to judge the top 10 sandwiches on creativity, nutritional balance, taste, appearance and ease of preparation. The five entrants with the highest combined scores from the initial judging round and the online vote will advance to the finals. Finalists will participate in a live judging event in New York City in March 2010. The grand prize winner will receive a $25,000 college scholarship fund and four runners-up will each receive a $2,500 scholarship fund. All finalists will receive a Jif gift basket.

For more information about other Jif tips, recipes, contests and promotions, log on to www.jif.com.

About The J. M. Smucker Company

For more than 100 years, The J.M. Smucker Company has been committed to offering consumers quality products that help families create memorable mealtime moments.  Today, Smucker is the leading marketer and manufacturer of fruit spreads, retail packaged coffee, peanut butter, shortening and oils, ice cream toppings, sweetened condensed milk, and health and natural foods beverages in North America. Its family of brands includes Smucker's®, Folgers®, Dunkin' Donuts®, Jif®, Crisco®, Pillsbury®, Eagle Brand®, R.W. Knudsen Family®, Hungry Jack®, White Lily® and Martha White® in the United States, along with Robin Hood®, Five Roses®, Carnation®, Europe's Best® and Bick's® in Canada. The Company remains rooted in the Basic Beliefs of Quality, People, Ethics, Growth and Independence established by its founder and namesake more than a century ago. The Company has appeared on FORTUNE Magazine's list of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in the United States 11 times, ranking number one in 2004. For more information about the Company, visit www.smuckers.com.

The J. M. Smucker Company is the owner of all trademarks, except Pillsbury is a trademark of The Pillsbury Company, used under license; Carnation is a trademark of Societe des Produits Nestle S.A., used under license; and Dunkin' Donuts is a registered trademark of DD IP Holder LLC used under license.

SOURCE The J.M. Smucker Company