This Virtual Scavenger Hunt & Essay Contest is in honor of Black History Month and ends March 27, 2009.
Check contest details to see students/schools eligible to participate.
Black History Contest - Virtual Scavenger Hunt Essay Contest
1. BEN - 2009 SCAVENGER HUNT & ESSAY CONTEST
About our Black Employee Network (BEN) at Sun Microsystems
Our Black Employee Network (BEN) is one of several Employee Resource Groups within Sun Microsystems. These
groups are sponsored and encouraged because Sun is committed to a globally inclusive environment with Sun.
BEN's VISION:
============
Sun is the employer of choice for people of African descent.
Our employee population reflects the variety of experiences, perspectives and cultures of our global marketplace.
We value the unique contributions of each individual and support them in reaching their full potential through our
highly inclusive environment.
BEN's ACADEMIC OBJECTIVES:
=========================
- Bridge the Digital Divide
- Connect with students, schools and colleges
- Reach out to our communities
- Raise awareness to students and schools about Sun Microsystems technology
- Continue to recruit and build membership for our Academic Readiness Corps (ARC)
- Support and encourage organizations, programs and schools focused on enhancing students technology skills
BEN'S ANNUAL BLACK HISTORY CONTESTS:
===================================
On an annual basis and in honor of Black History Month, BEN designs a contest that is intended to engage with
students in our communities, increase student awareness of Sun Microsystems and technology and support the
development of our youth.
This year, our contest is a Virtual Scavenger Hunt and Essay contest which requires students to access our Sun
Microsystems website http://www.sun.com/students. At our website students will learn more about the training,
tools and resources available to them. They will also have the opportunity experience some of those tools and
resources. This contest also requires participants to write a short essay.
We hope you enjoy the challenge of this contest and we appreciate your participation.
Diane Mathis
Co-Chairperson
Black Employee Network (BEN)
Sun Microsystems
diane.mathis@sun.com
877-246-8129
RECOMMENDED PROCESS FOR COMPLETING DATA ENTRY FOR CONTEST
Since you will need to enter the data/requirements on line, we suggest that you first, use the hard copy document:
1. Conduct your research and compile your answers and select your topic and write your Essay first.
2. Use the hard copy document to write all of your responses. This is so you have all of your responses ready to
enter on line when you access the Contest Link.
3. When you are ready to enter your data for this contest, have your completed document in front of you and
ready, then GO ON THE INTERNET AND ACCESS THIS LINK TO ENTER YOUR INPUT - THIS INCLUDES YOUR ESSAY -
link: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=ELJWIi1_2bTrqk8tAIEWO7vg_3d_3d
It's important to note that you want to make your you use diligence in preparing your data for entry. This is
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2. BEN - 2009 SCAVENGER HUNT & ESSAY CONTEST
because once you access the link you will be expected to be able to complete or enter all of your responses and
your essay in a single setting. You will not have multiple opportunities to go back into the tool to record your
responses or your essay.
CONTEST RULES
1).Students of all genders and ethnicities can participate.
2). STUDENTS MUST BE ATTENDING HIGH HIGH SCHOOL GRADES 9-12 OR BE ATTENDING COLLEGE - UNDERGRAD (IN
THE US) AND THEY MUST BELONG TO EITHER OF THE FOLLOWING PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATIONS, SCHOOLS OR
COLLEGES:
PROJECT GRAD, USA:
Akron, OH
Atlanta, GA
Bronsville, TX
Cinncinatti, OH
Houson, TX
Kenai Peninsula, AK
Knoxville, TN
Long Island, NY
Loraine, OH
Los Angeles, CA
Newark, NJ
Philadelphia, PA
ELC: TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER PROGRAM - HBCU'S:
Morgan State University, Baltimore MD
Tennessee State University, Nashville, TN
Florida A & M University, Tallahassee, FL
Howard University, Washington, DC
North Carolina A&T University, Greensboro, NC
Norfolk State University, Norfolk, VA
Hampton University, Hampton, VA
Morehouse College, Atlanta, GA
Alabama A&M University, Huntsville, AL
Southern University, Baton Rouge, LA
Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, AL
GOVERNOR'S SCHOOL PARTICIPANTS/RUTGERS UNIVERSITY, NEW JERSEY
CONSTINE EVANS SCHOLARSHIP MINISTRY, LINDEN, NJ
NATIONAL COALITION OF 100 BLACK WOMEN, OAKLAND BAY AREA CHAPTER
POSITIVE STEPS PROGRAM
EMERY UNIFIELD SCHOOL DISTRICT, EMERYVILLE, CA
ABRAHAM CLARK HIGH SCHOOL, ROSELLE, NJ
ROSELLE CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL, ROSELLE, NJ
LINDEN HIGH SCHOOL, LINDEN, NJ
FRANK GREENE SCHOLARS PROGRAM, SILICON VALLEY, CA
FIRST PLACE FOR YOUTH, BAY AREA, CA
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3. BEN - 2009 SCAVENGER HUNT & ESSAY CONTEST
KEAN UNIVERSITY, UNION, NJ
MONTCLAIR STATE UNIVERSITY, MONTCLAIR, NJ
UNION COUNTY COLLEGE, CRANFORD, NJ
3). Students must complete all responses and requirements
of the Scavenger Hunt and Essay Contest to be eligible.
4). Students are required to access the internet and view Sun's website: http://www.sun.com/students.
5). Students must be registered with Sun, instructions on Registration with Sun as part of the contest.
6). Restrictions: Students cannot be current or past employees of Sun Microsystems
SUBMISSION - PRIZES AND DISTRIBUTION
SUBMISSION DEADLINE: Friday, March 27, 2009
SUBMISSIONS MUST BE MADE ONLINE AT THIS LINK:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=ELJWIi1_2bTrqk8tAIEWO7vg_3d_3d
PRIZES:
There will be a 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th prize winners in each category (high school and college).
1st Prize: $500.00
2nd Prize: $350.00
3rd Prize: $200.00
4th Prize: $100.00
WINNERS WILL BE ANNOUNCED ON: Friday, April 24, 2009
DISTRIBUTION OF PRIZES WILL BE COORDINATED WITH THE SCHOOL OR ORGANIZATION THROUGH THE PRINCIPAL,
DEAN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OR PROGRAM MANAGER.
AWARD SELECTION & DISTRIBUTION CONTACT INFORMATION
Please tell us about yourself so that if you are chosen as an award recipient, we are able to get you your prize.
It is crucial that this information is accurate. Inaccuracies could result in delays in prize distribution.
* 1. Please provide the following information which is required in the event you are a
contest winner.
Name:
City/Town:
State:
Email Address:
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4. BEN - 2009 SCAVENGER HUNT & ESSAY CONTEST
* 2. Can we contact you for future student and/or academic events?
j
k
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n Yes
j
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m
n No
Other (please specify)
* 3. Please tell us whether you were able to participate in this contest by using a PC at
your:
j
k
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m
n Home
j
k
l
m
n School
j
k
l
m
n Library
j
k
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n Church/House of Worship
j
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n Other (please specify)
* 4. ===================================
SCHOOL AND ORGANIZATION INFORMATION:
===================================
Other
This information will be used to contact your school, college or organization as a
means of distributing your prize, in the event you are a contest winner.
Please make sure your responses are accurate.
A. What grade in high
school or college level are
you in?
B. Name of your school,
college or organization
C. Street Address of your
school, college or
organization
D. City, State and Zip
Code for your School,
college or organization
E. Name of the Principal
of your high school, Dean
of your College, Executive
Director or Program
Manager for your
organization
F. Phone # for your
Principal of your high
school, Dean of your
College, Executive
Director or Program
Manager for your
organization
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5. BEN - 2009 SCAVENGER HUNT & ESSAY CONTEST
CONTEST QUESTIONS & REQUIREMENTS
Please provide responses to each of the questions or statements below.
In addition to completing the responses accurately you will also be judged on your ability to follow instructions and
your resourcefulness in finding the correct answers.
* 1. What is the stock symbol for Sun Microsystems?
* 2. What is Sun's theme for students as listed at http://www.sun.com/students?
* 3. Which of the following are part of the Toolbox as listed at
http://www.sun.com/students?
c
d
e
f
g Campus Ambassadors
c
d
e
f
g Open Source Software
c
d
e
f
g Training & Certification
c
d
e
f
g Find a Job or Internship
c
d
e
f
g Homework Help
c
d
e
f
g Events Calendar
c
d
e
f
g Office of the President
c
d
e
f
g All of the Above
* 4. What do the letters S-U-N in Sun Microsystems, stand for?
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6. BEN - 2009 SCAVENGER HUNT & ESSAY CONTEST
* 5. What does SAI stand for? In the comment field, tell us what you learned about SAI
when you checked out our Sun Microsystems website.
j
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n Sun Access Information
j
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n Sun Academic Initiative
j
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n Sun Academic Information
Tell us about SAI:
* 6. Sun Microsystems has a student developer community and the name of that
community is OSUM (pronounced awesome).
In sentence format, please write a brief paragraph explaining the following:
- What did you learn about this community?
- Who can participate or join this community?
- What is the value of belonging to this community?
REGISTRATION WITH SUN MICROSYSTEMS
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7. BEN - 2009 SCAVENGER HUNT & ESSAY CONTEST
Sun Microsystems is working hard to let students and schools know about the valuable tools, resources and training
available to them via our website.
We believe that students and schools will gain huge benefits from access to software downloads, training, and a
technology network.
In order to be eligible for the contest and the Scavenger Hunt you will need to register with Sun and confirm your
registration by following the process below.
* 1. Access this link to REGISTER with Sun: http://sailearningconnection.skillport.com.
While you are registering you will see a field titled PROMO CODE. Enter quot;BEN
CONTESTquot; in the Promo Code field.
In addition to the criteria listed under the Essay portion of this contest, you will also
be judged based on your ability to follow instructions and successfully registration.
Note: if you are already registered, enter your registration username in the
appropriate field below.
After you have registered, enter the unique username that you assigned yourself
when registering with Sun, here:
* 2. When you visited the websites for Sun Microsystems, what did you find most
interesting, exciting or of value?
3. If you encountered any problems while completing the registration process,
please specify below.
ESSAY REQUIREMENT
Please choose from one of the topics below to write your essay.
Submissions will be judged on creativity, grammar, content, clarity, and coherence of the essay’s topic as it is
expressed throughout the essay. Overall, contest judging will also include accuracy of the responses to all
questions.
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8. BEN - 2009 SCAVENGER HUNT & ESSAY CONTEST
* 1. PLEASE SELECT THE TOPIC FOR YOUR ESSAY FROM THE LISTE BELOW:
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n If you could select your ideal mentor, of African decent, from the present (living) or past (dead) who would you select and
why?
j
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n What concerns you the most about your future and why? What excites you the most about your future and why?
j
k
l
m
n If you were President Barack Obama, what would your top 3 priorities be and why?
j
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m
n What does the term quot;digital dividequot; mean, and what impact does it have in your community?
* 2. In your own words, please write the content of your essay here. Remember, this
content should be related to the title you already selected above.
3. Use this space to continue your essay (if needed).
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9. BEN - 2009 SCAVENGER HUNT & ESSAY CONTEST
4. Use this space to continue your essay (if needed).
5. Use this space to continue your essay (if needed).
FEEDBACK
We would just like to obtain your feedback regarding your experience in participating in this contest.
Your responses here are just informational and will not be used for the purposes of judging your contest entry. It will
help us improve future contests and experiences for students.
* 1. How challenging was this contest for you?
c
d
e
f
g 1 - it was too easy
c
d
e
f
g 5 - it was a challenging
c
d
e
f
g 10 - it was too hard
Other (please specify)
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10. BEN - 2009 SCAVENGER HUNT & ESSAY CONTEST
* 2. On an on going basis, Sun Microsystems is interested in providing information,
training and an overview the most current resources available to students and
schools.
Please check the statement which best reflects your perspective.
j
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n I would be more likely to participate in a training or information session if it were given virtually over the internet.
j
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m
n I would be more likely to participate in a training or information session if it were given in person.
j
k
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m
n I am not interested in technology and I would not be interested in participating.
j
k
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m
n Other (please specify)
3. We welcome your feedback, please add any additional comments you would like to
offer.
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