I love to travel. Well, that might be an understatement – I have a passion for travel! I have found over the years that if you are going to travel a lot, it really pays to join rewards programs for hotels and airlines so that you’re always earning points during your travels that you can use to fund future trips! My favorite is the Hilton HHonors loyalty program, and Chris and I both have accounts – though he’s earned far more points that I have because he traveled every month for work for a year and a half!
I first became obsessed with travel when my high school Italian teacher, Ms. Revilla, took members of the Italian club to Italy one summer. My parents wouldn’t allow me to go, so when school was back in session that fall, Ms. Revilla brought me back a beautiful necklace from Italy – and countless spellbinding stories of her travels that summer.
From that moment on, I was determined to explore the world outside Miami, and set my sights on Italy as my ultimate dream destination. Picking up that little souvenir for me was one of the kindest things anyone has ever done for me, and I still have it to this day. Though, I’d be lying if I told you that I knew exactly where it was! It was as if by putting that necklace into my hand, she somehow passed on to me her passion for Italy. I’ve been obsessed with all things Italian ever since!
I will finally realize my lifelong dream of seeing Italy this summer, when I am supposed to go on a Mediterranean cruise. I hope to see all of the landmarks I’ve dreamt of for so long, all thanks to Ms. Revilla!
Hilton HHonors is giving teachers a passport to see the world and bring their experiences back to the classroom through their Teacher Treks Travel Grant Competition, a program that will fund the travels of 15 teachers so that they can experience first-hand the subject they teach -which is exactly what Ms. Revilla did with me 18 years ago!
Hilton HHonors developed Teacher Treks alongside the Institute of International Education, a world leader in the international exchange – they also happen to administer the prestigious Fulbright Scholarship! The program is part of Hilton Worldwide’s Travel with Purpose commitment to celebrating cultures and the power of travel to build stronger communities.
Hilton HHonors just announced their 30 finalists for the Teacher Treks Travel Grant Competition and you can vote for your favorite finalist at www.hhonors.com/TeacherTreks to help them choose the 15 winners! Voting is open until April 30th, 2013, so hurry and get your vote in!
The Prizes:
- 15 winners will receive a grant valued at $6,000 to travel to a destination of their choice; in addition to the trip, each winning teachers’ school will also receive a $2,500 grant to use for cultural activities or enhancements.
- Runners-up: 15 runners-up will each receive a $2,500 grant for their school to use for cultural activities or enhancements.
- One winner from all submissions will receive a cultural excursion for their classroom valued at $1,500
But that’s not all – you can give back to these amazing teachers and possibly win yourself! 10 random voters will win a Hilton HHonors gift card valued at $250!
You can cast one vote each day through April 30th, 2013, so that’s at least 10 opportunities to help one lucky teacher win – and 10 opportunities to win that awesome $250 Hilton HHonors gift card to help fund your own life-changing travel experience!
If you aren’t already a Hilton HHonors loyalty program member, If you are not already an HHonors member, you can register at Hhonors3.hilton.com. We’ve redeemed our points for everything from hotel stays to gift cards – Chris even redeemed his points once to buy me a Tiffany’s bracelet!
For more information on the 30 finalists, voting or for full Terms and Conditions, please visit www.hhonors.com/TeacherTreks. Winners will be announced in May 2013. While I was compensated for sharing this information with you, all opinions are my own. My husband and I both highly recommend the Hilton HHonors loyalty program when traveling!
What a great contest! I voted.
What a nice way to honor teachers.
I have to tell my teacher friends about this.
What a fascinating concept the Hilton HHonors teacher Trek Competition is! I have read all of the essays and my favorite by far is Sandra K. I love how she says that as a reading teacher, she has always promoted books as powerful and accessible means for students to travel. She would like to travel to the Indian Ocean islands of Zanzibar, just off the coast of Tanzania, and Mauritius, east of Madagascar “… to observe firsthand how the people on both of these islands – comprised of minorities and the meeting of cultures that have been in conflict in other parts of the world – have found ways to live side-by-side…” I hope she is one of the winners.
It’s nice to see teachers recognized in this way!
I love how everyone is a winner in this competition – the teachers/students/schools everyone comes out with something in the end!
I am one of the finalists! Please read my proposal and please at least go vote for someone! The more people who vote the more likely they will offer this program in the future to other teachers!