ProCon.org Announces National Student Video Contest for Middle School, High School, and College and University Students

SANTA MONICA, Calif., Sept. 25, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today the nonprofit educational organization ProCon.org announces its first ever national student video contest. Students can win cash prizes for their 1-2 minute video productions on the theme "Why I Love ProCon.org."

The contest is open to currently enrolled middle school (grades 6-8), high school (grades 9-12), and college/university (undergraduate and graduate) students who attend schools (including home schools) in the United States.

ProCon.org, online at www.procon.org, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public charity that provides free and nonpartisan research on controversial issues. Teachers, librarians, and educators in over 3,000 schools in all 50 states and 49 countries have used ProCon.org content in their instructional materials. ProCon.org had 9.8 million readers in 2011, and is projected to exceed 15 million readers in 2012.

"With so many students across America using ProCon.org, we thought it made sense to find out why they loved our website so much," said ProCon.org President Kamy Akhavan. "We could have just asked them, but challenging students to showcase their creativity and then rewarding them for it seemed like a better idea."

Six contest winners will be selected: a first and second prize winner for middle school (grades 6-8), a first and second prize winner for high school (grades 9-12), and a first and second prize winner for college/university (undergraduate or graduate students).

First place prizes are $400, and second place prizes are $200. Both first and second place winners also receive ProCon.org merchandise for their respective schools.

The contest will be judged by ProCon.org staff and select ProCon.org fans, including accomplished film and television producers and actors. Judging is based on five categories: creativity, passion, video production quality, familiarity with ProCon.org, and following the contest rules.

Contest details and entry forms are available at http://www.procon.org/view.background-resource.php?resourceID=005024

Entries received before Nov. 1, 2012 will be automatically entered into a drawing for a $100 Amazon.com gift card. The final deadline is Nov. 16, 2012.

About Us
ProCon.org (online at www.procon.org) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public charity whose mission is promoting critical thinking, education, and informed citizenship.  Information is presented on 43 different ProCon.org issue websites in subjects ranging from the 2012 presidential election, alternative energy, and medical marijuana to the death penalty, illegal immigration, and health care reform.

ProCon.org websites are free of charge and require no registration.  The websites have been referenced by over 600 media entities, cited 36 times by the governments of 11 countries (including 20 US states and seven US federal agencies), and used by educators in over 3,000 schools in all 50 US states and 49 countries.

Media/Press Coverage of ProCon.org Includes: 60 Minutes, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, BBC, Bloomberg, Business Week, CBS News, CNN, CNBC, Contra Costa Times, Dallas Morning News, Esquire, Forbes, Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel, FOX News, The Guardian, Houston Chronicle, Huffington Post, Idaho Press-Tribune, Los Angeles Times, Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune, Mother Jones, NBC News, New England Journal of Medicine, New York Times, Orange County Register, The Oregonian, Orlando Sentinel, PBS, Reuters, Shreveport Times, Slate, USA Today, Washington Post, Wired, and many others.

Facebook: www.facebook.com/procon.org

Twitter: www.twitter.com/procon_org

CONTACT: Kambiz Akhavan, +1-310-587-1407, [email protected]

SOURCE ProCon.org