Nominate a Student with Special Needs to Win a Trip to Morgan's Wonderland

SAN ANTONIO, Feb. 27, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Nominations are now open for a contest that will send a student with special needs and his or her family on an all-expense-paid trip to Morgan's Wonderland, the world's first ultra-accessible family fun park. Sponsored by PCI Education and Dell, the nationwide contest asks educators to nominate one of their most inspiring students to win a trip of a lifetime to Morgan's Wonderland via the WeAreTeachers online community.

Located in San Antonio, Morgan's Wonderland is a 25-acre park designed specifically for children and adults with special needs, their families, caregivers and friends. The park is completely wheelchair-accessible and features more than 25 elements and attractions, including rides, playgrounds, gardens and an eight-acre fishing lake. Morgan's Wonderland is a unique oasis that allows people of all abilities to play, learn and share life-changing experiences together in a fun and safe environment.

"Morgan's Wonderland has generated incredibly positive feedback from those with and without physical or cognitive challenges," said Gordon Hartman, CEO of The Gordon Hartman Family Foundation and the driving force in the park's creation.  "We're absolutely delighted to collaborate with PCI Education, Dell and WeAreTeachers in providing truly memorable experiences for the contest winners and their families."

Special education teachers can nominate their students online at WeAreTeachers until March 20, 2012. Voting will begin on March 27 when the submitted nominations will be posted online for public viewing, and will close on April 17. A panel of judges will review the five nominees receiving the most votes and select a grand-prize winner based on merit.

"This annual partnership is a fun way for all of us to recognize families and teachers across the country who are making a difference for students with special needs," said Lee Wilson, CEO and president of PCI Education. "We're thrilled to be sponsoring the second annual contest, and continue to be inspired by the remarkable and touching stories shared by hundreds of teachers last year."

The grand prize includes a three-day, two-night trip for four people to visit Morgan's Wonderland in San Antonio, valued at $5,000. In addition, the teacher who nominates the grand prize winner will receive a $2,500 gift card to spend on products from PCI Education, the premier provider of resources for students with specialized instructional needs. Teachers who nominate the second through sixth place students also will earn a $500 gift card to spend on PCI Education products.

"We truly believe that all students can learn ­– and should have the support to meet their individual learning needs and styles," said Kelli Hodges, global education manager at Dell. "We're so happy to be involved in this project to help shine a light on the successes and possibilities in learning – and the inspirational student stories behind them."

In 2011, the nationwide contest generated more than 250 nominations and 56,000 online votes during a three-week period. Dell, a company that believes technology can open the world to individuals with disabilities, joins as a sponsor for this year's contest.

"WeAreTeachers is honored to be a part of this project, and we're particularly excited about the addition of Dell as a partner," said Sandy Fivecoat, CEO and founder of WeAreTeachers. "We continue to be impressed with the important and significant contributions from Morgan's Wonderland, and look forward to another year in partnership."

For more information about the contest, visit www.pcieducation.com/mwpark. To submit a student nomination, visit www.weareteachers.com/morgans-wonderland.com.

About Morgan's Wonderland
Morgan's Wonderland, located in Northeast San Antonio at the intersection of Wurzbach Parkway and Thousand Oaks Drive, is the world's first ultra-accessible theme park specifically designed for special-needs individuals but built to be enjoyed by everyone.  Completely wheelchair-accessible, the unique and colorful park features more than 25 elements and attractions including rides, playgrounds, gardens, an eight-acre fishing lake, 18,000-square-foot special-events center, 575-seat amphitheater, picnic area and rest areas.  The non-profit park, nearby STAR Soccer Complex and Monarch Academy school for students with special needs were created through the vision and leadership of The Gordon Hartman Family Foundation.  For more information, visit www.MorgansWonderland.com, or call (210) 495-5888.

About PCI Education
PCI Education offers more than 7,500 educational materials for a wide range of students with specialized instructional needs. The company's products are used to help students performing below grade level, students with learning differences, and students with significant or developmental disabilities such as autism. In addition, PCI programs are used in English language learner and adult literacy classes. Based in San Antonio, PCI Education has been helping educators lead students to success in school, at home and in the community since 1991. For more information, visit www.pcieducation.com.

About WeAreTeachers
WeAreTeachers (www.weareteachers.com) provides a powerful online community for teachers, combining the expertise of our member community, the resources and knowledge base of our partners and the momentum of social media to recognize and reward innovative teaching ideas. With thousands of teaching ideas submitted for cash and prizes, WeAreTeachers offers a unique forum for creativity and collaboration.

CONTACT
Denise Jacks
210-377-1999 x123
[email protected]

SOURCE PCI Education