Feb 28, 2023

Hay Springs student 1 of 7 eight graders to travel on European river cruise contest

Posted Feb 28, 2023 4:36 PM

News Release

OMAHA, NE  – AAA-The Auto Club Group is announcing the winners of its Discovery Crew travel contest for 8th graders, held last summer. Seven of the 60 contest winners announced live in Nebraska. The prize is an educational river cruise through Europe.

AAA Discovery Crew – Nebraska Winners

  1. Aubry A. - Hay Springs
  2. Levi N. - Lincoln
  3. Harrison P. - Lincoln
  4. Carter P.  - La Vista
  5. Aubrey T. - Auburn
  6. Ella M. - Kearney
  7. Lena W. -  Lincoln

In the coming days, each winner and a chaperone will fly to Amsterdam, then sail together on an AmaWaterways river cruise through Belgium and the Netherlands. AAA partnered with AmaWaterways and Allianz Global Assistance to provide the river cruise, flights, travel insurance, and money for passports.

This contest was open to all 8th graders throughout the 14 states that AAA – The Auto Club Group serves. A total of 60 winners were selected. The students won the contest by answering three essay questions and submitting a selfie showing their passion for travel.

“We were amazed by the passionate responses from the many students who expressed their interest in going on this trip,” said Debbie Haas, Vice President of Travel for AAA – The Auto Club Group. “The winners chosen are different in many ways, but each shares a similar enthusiasm for travel. Soon these students will immerse themselves in different cultures and see what it’s like to be an 8th grader in two different countries. The students who attended the previous trip called this a life-changing experience, so we are excited to share this opportunity with another group of people.”

During the trip, students will follow a custom-designed itinerary with ports of call and shore excursions focused on learning about local history, art, science, nature, and food. Besides sampling local cuisine and visiting historic landmarks like the Anne Frank House, students will enjoy tours that allow them to live out their passion for travel, like riding bicycles near the world-famous Holland windmills. On a more personal level, they will meet students at two different schools to see what life is like as an 8th grader in Belgium and the Netherlands.