Alaska Airlines Announces Winners of 'Russell's 12th Fan Rescue' Contest

SEATTLE, Jan. 10, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Alaska Airlines and star NFL quarterback Russell Wilson today announced the winners of "Russell 12^th Fan Rescue" nationwide contest. The two winning entries were submitted by Adam Christoferson, of East Haven, Conn., and by Stephen Emerson and his 10-year-old son, Andrew, of Monterey, Calif. In addition to the two winners, the airline gave an honorable mention to Eric Wahl and Matt Lowe of Boston. Learn more about the winners at www.facebook.com/alaskaairlines.

The two winners and honorable mention were selected out of nearly 2,000 entries received over three days this week from as far away as Maui, Hawaii, and North Pole, Alaska. Each of the three contest winners and their guest will receive an all-expenses paid trip to Seattle on Alaska Airlines, including roundtrip airfare, two nights of hotel accommodations, transportation to the game and tickets to watch the Seahawks battle the New Orleans Saints in the NFL playoff game at CenturyLink Field on Jan. 11.

Christoferson, 30, is a music therapist for at-risk youth. He was born in Washington state, moved to the East Coast when he was 3 and has made several trips back home to the Seattle area to visit family. In his original song titled "Russell's 12^th Fan Rescue," Christoferson describes the hardship of life among New England Patriot fans "in a land where no Seahawks fans dwell."

"Although I've lived in Connecticut most of my life, Seattle has always been home to me," he said. "Winning this contest is a dream come true for me and my girlfriend, especially flying back home to Seattle on Alaska Airlines, an airline I've flown for most of my life."

The second contest winner, Emerson, was urged by his wife, Laura, to enter the "12^th Fan Rescue" contest. In their video, Stephen and his son debate who has earned the right to attend Saturday's playoff game. Stephen, a Seattle native, is a submarine officer for the United States Navy and attends the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey.

"Watching the Seahawks games are a way to make me feel more connected to Seattle and my family," Emerson said. "My son has never been to a game and he's super excited to see them play Saturday. The thing he was most bummed about was missing school today because he couldn't brag to his friends that he won this trip."

Honorable mention winners Eric Wahl and Matt Lowe, 23 and 22, respectively, met their freshman year when they moved to Boston to attend Emerson College. The friends spent seven hours this week creating their entry by wandering the streets and subways of Boston in search of Seahawks fans.

Contest extended with Seahawks win

If the Seahawks continue their winning streak after Saturday, Alaska Airlines has pledged to renew "Russell Wilson's 12^th Fan Rescue" contest for another week and fly two more winners and their guests to Seattle for the NFC Championship Game on Jan. 19. Previous submissions to this week's contest will be included in the second contest and new entries will be accepted until 4 p.m. Jan. 17. Football fans can review complete contest rules and learn more about next week's contest at www.alaskaair.com/12thFanRescue.

"We're delighted to see so much 12^th man pride and support for Russell across the country," said Joe Sprague, Alaska Airlines' vice president of marketing. "We urge football fans to join us in supporting the Seahawks and are hopeful to extend the '12^th Fan Rescue' contest to bring even more fans home to Seattle for next week's game."

Alaska Airlines named Wilson its honorary "chief football officer" last month. As part of the partnership, travelers wearing a Wilson jersey are invited to board early on flights departing from Seattle for the duration of the Seahawks season.

In addition, Alaska has enhanced its support of Seattle Children's Hospital, where Wilson regularly visits young fans receiving care. In honor of Wilson's commitment to connect with these children in such a meaningful way, Alaska Airlines is donating 100,000 miles to Children's Hospital for each touchdown pass Wilson throws or touchdown he scores through the rest of this season. Wilson will also appear at events, take part in marketing activities for the airline, and work with the carrier to support youth and education programs.

Fans can follow these and other Wilson announcements at www.facebook.com/AlaskaAirlines and on Twitter @AlaskaAir.

Editor's note: Download broadcast-quality footage of Stephen and Andrew Emerson departing San Jose Airport and arriving in Seattle this afternoon at http://wdrv.it/KKTMQR. Still photos from the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport homecoming are available in the carrier's online image gallery at http://bit.ly/IuFRxE.

Alaska Airlines, a subsidiary of Alaska Air Group (NYSE: ALK), together with its partner regional airlines, serves nearly 100 cities through an expansive network in Alaska, the Lower 48, Hawaii, Canada and Mexico. With more nonstop flights to Seattle than any other carrier, Alaska is widely regarded as the West Coast's major airline. Alaska Airlines has ranked "Highest in Customer Satisfaction Among Traditional Network Carriers" in the J.D. Power and Associates North America Airline Satisfaction Study^SM for six consecutive years from 2008 to 2013. For reservations, visit www.alaskaair.com. For more news and information, visit the Alaska Airlines Newsroom at www.alaskaair.com/newsroom.

SOURCE Alaska Airlines