Author Archives: uwirepr

GANGNAM — HALLOWEEN’S MOST ANTICIPATED POPULAR COSTUME

GoGangnam.com Contact: Dana@gogangnam.com

For immediate release

October 4, 2012 – Pop Culture trends have often burgeoned from song and dance crazes. The most recent in history was the “Macarena” whose iconic moves of the 1990′s has now been officially surpassed. “Gangnam Style” was recognized Sept. 20, 2012, by Guinness World Records as the “Most ‘Liked’ Video in YouTube History.” South Korean pop singer, Psy’s Gangnam Style music video was released on July 15, 2012 and soared to being viewed over 286 million times on YouTube as of Sept. 26th – making it the site’s most watched pop video in history.

And on the heels of pop culture crazes ultimately comes the merchandising mania. Whether branded stickers, lunch boxes, cereal boxes, posters or such this year’s big Gangnam trend will most certainly be an in-demand costume. But the craze only popped up a few weeks ago. Who could get to market fast enough?

Racing against the impossible time frame challenge, former movie marketing executive, Dana Precious and star-power photographer, Peter Tangen, have delivered the Gangnam costume look with bright green and powder blue tuxedo jackets in time for Halloween only available online at www.GoGangnam.com.

“As a photographer, I spotted the growing trend early on and became intrigued.” says Peter Tangen of his idea. Dana is the only person I know who has all of the skills necessary to realize this impossible goal, so together we created a Gangnam Halloween costume that, we think, is the only one like it available in the world.” Pete has photographed movie stars from Shia LaBouef, Chris Hemsworth, Emma Stone and Neil Patrick Harris to Samuel L. Jackson, Anthony Hopkins and Steve Martin.

“With Halloween looming there is an apparent gap in the marketplace for what the fans themselves have proclaimed by viewership “votes” as the hottest song and dance trend of this decade, if not the millennium, so it seemed like a natural merchandising move.” said Dana Precious. “We used skills and resources from our experiences in the movie marketing industry to create and manufacturer costumes within the span of three weeks.

Dana Precious is no stranger to movie magic as Sony Pictures’ EVP of Creative Advertising who launched movie franchises such as “Spider-Man”, “Charlie’s Angels,” and “Stuart Little” and most recently as Marvel’s EVP of Worldwide Marketing who launched “Thor” and “Captain America”. All have been been movie merchandise magnets, including Halloween costumes based on movie characters. The fast paced Halloween creation of the dancer’s tuxedos was a natural fashion “fit” for her career and it’s being sold online “since social media started the craze, it seemed best to follow the consumer trend and sell it online.” summarizes Dana.

Mark Workman, an entertainment trend prognosticator and President of Fireworks Enterprises, Inc.
says “Wow, this product is going to hit and hit big. It’s clear that the Gangnam trend is a giant tidal wave that’s hitting the world. With Halloween less than four weeks away this craze may be on its way to overtake Zombies, Monsters, Fairies and Politicians costumes.”

Available only online at GoGangnam.com

This article appeared on Yahoonews.com, September 28, 2012
news.yahoo.com/gogangnam-com-gangnam-anticipated-halloween-most-popular-costume-210059844.html

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SiriusXM P.O.T.U.S. Channel Launches “Pete Dominick’s Electoral College Tour”

Leading in to the live 2012 presidential debates, P.O.T.U.S. host/stand-up comedian Dominick hosts live broadcasts and student town hall events at the University of Denver, Hofstra University and the University of Virginia

NEW YORK, October 2, 2012 – Sirius XM Radio (NASDAQ: SIRI) announced today that SiriusXM P.O.T.U.S. host/stand-up comedian Pete Dominick will host “Pete Dominick’s Electoral College Tour,” a series of special broadcasts and student events live from the sites of the first two presidential debates—the University of Denver and Hofstra University—as well as the University of Virginia.

“Pete Dominick’s Electoral College Tour” broadcasts will air live before each of the three presidential debates, serving as a lead-in to these pivotal events marking the last weeks of the 2012 race to the White House.

At each campus location, Dominick will host a special one-hour forum with students and faculty, before the presidential debate and live from 8:00 – 9:00 pm ET, to talk about the issues that matter most to them in this election. Dominick will also be doing his daily show Stand Up! with Pete Dominick on campus from 3:00 – 6:00 pm ET. Both shows will air live on SiriusXM P.O.T.U.S. channel 124.

“Every day I host a respectful and informative discussion with the best policy experts available while encouraging listeners to think for themselves,” said Pete Dominick. “I look forward to hearing directly from students about what issues and candidates—including those who won’t be on stage debating—inspired them this political season, and to sharing their perspective with SiriusXM listeners across the country.”

“Pete is a rarity in talk radio: an independent voice who uses experts, ideas and humor to flesh out the issues affecting all of us today,” said Scott Greenstein, President and Chief Content Officer, SiriusXM. “By bringing his microphone to college campuses to engage and interact with American students on SiriusXM, he’s giving this generation of voters the chance to be heard across the nation.”

“Pete Dominick’s Electoral College Tour” kicks off on October 3 at the University of Denver— host of the first debate in the swing state of Colorado—as part of the school’s DebateFest event during which 5000 students, faculty and local community members are invited to campus to participate in events celebrating the election and a screening of the debate itself.

The tour’s next stop will be October 16 at Hofstra University, host of the second debate. Dominick will broadcast Stand Up! from “Issue Alley,” an outdoor area where students can participate in a variety of interactive and informational activities related to issues surrounding the election. That night’s live student town hall event will take place at Hofstra USA, where hundreds of students will gather for the broadcast and evening festivities as part of a campus debate watch party.

The final stop of “Pete Dominick’s Electoral College Tour” will be at the University of Virginia in cooperation with the school’s non-partisan Center for Politics on October 22, the day of the final presidential debate. Dominick will host the pre-debate student town hall from the West Oval Room in The Rotunda—designed by Thomas Jefferson as the architectural and academic heart of his University— where he will speak with students about voting in this swing state and how this election will affect them.

SiriusXM P.O.T.U.S.—the unfiltered, unbiased 24/7 channel that covers the “Politics of the United States” from every perspective—tells the story of American politics daily with unbiased news programs, live coverage and unfiltered audio of major political events from inside and outside the Beltway.

“Pete Dominick’s Electoral College Tour” will be available on SiriusXM On Demand after it airs on SiriusXM P.O.T.U.S. to subscribers listening via the SiriusXM Internet Radio App for smartphones and other mobile devices, or online at SiriusXM.com. Visit www.siriusxm.com/ondemand for more information.

For more information follow @PeteDominick on Twitter and visit www.siriusxm.com/Election2012.

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About Sirius XM Radio

Sirius XM Radio Inc. is the world’s largest radio broadcaster measured by revenue and has 22.9 million subscribers. SiriusXM creates and broadcasts commercial-free music; premier sports talk and live events;bcomedy; news; exclusive talk and entertainment; and the most comprehensive Latin music, sports and talk programming in radio. SiriusXM is available in vehicles from every major car company in the U.S., from retailers nationwide, and online at siriusxm.com. SiriusXM programming is also available through the SiriusXM Internet Radio App for Android, Apple, and BlackBerry smartphones and other connected devices. SiriusXM also holds a minority interest in SiriusXM Canada which has more than 2 million subscribers.

This communication contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements about future financial and operating results, our plans, objectives, expectations and intentions with respect to future operations, products and services; and other statements identified by words such as “will likely result,” “are expected to,” “will continue,” “is anticipated,” “estimated,” “believe,” “intend,” “plan,” “projection,” “outlook” or words of similar meaning. Such forward-looking statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of our management and are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are difficult to predict and generally beyond our control. Actual results may differ materially from the results anticipated in these forward-looking statements.

The following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from the anticipated results or other expectations expressed in the forward-looking statements: our competitive position versus other forms of audio entertainment; our dependence upon automakers; general economic conditions; failure of our satellites, which, in most cases, are not insured; our ability to attract and retain subscribers at a profitable level; royalties we pay for music rights; the unfavorable outcome of pending or future litigation; failure of third parties to perform; and our substantial indebtedness. Additional factors that could cause our results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, which is filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and available at the SEC’s Internet site (www.sec.gov). The information set forth herein speaks only as of the date hereof, and we disc aim any intention or obligation to update any forward looking statements as a result of developments occurring after the date of this communication.

Follow SiriusXM on Twitter or like the SiriusXM page on Facebook.

Contact:
Hillary Schupf
SiriusXM
212.901.6739
hillary.schupf@siriusxm.com

Below: SiriusXM’s Pete Dominick, host of “Stand Up! with Pete Dominick”

SiriusXM’s Pete Dominick, host of “Stand Up! with Pete Dominick”

Dell Issues Education Challenge to University Students Worldwide

ROUND ROCK, Texas, September 25, 2012 – Students, teachers and parents say that technology needs are not being met in school today, according to an opinion poll commissioned by Dell. Supporting respondents believe technology makes learning easier, makes teachers more accessible and can give students a personalized learning experience. Dell today issued the Dell Education Challenge to university students worldwide, asking for their inspiration, imagination and innovation to re-engineer today’s learning environments, both in and outside of the classroom.

“We heard from secondary school and university students, parents and teachers that they are familiar and comfortable with technology, but don’t think it’s playing as large a role in the classroom as it should,” said Steve Felice, Dell’s president and chief commercial officer. “Adults would like to see technology more integrated into learning. And, perhaps most importantly, many teachers do not feel as comfortable as their students do in using technology.”

In nearly 1,600 interviews with students, teachers and parents in China, Germany and the U.S., 71 percent of students said they have access to more advanced technology at home than they do at school. Parents said they would be willing to provide the technology their kids use at school, but believe they should have a stipend for the purchase. Despite this, a majority of students surveyed (51 percent) feel technology can serve as more of a distraction rather than an enabler. But they also said the benefits of technology to learning outweigh the potential distractions. This stands in contrast to parents and teachers who believe there should be more technology in the classroom, even though a majority of teachers, including 63 percent in the U.S., say their students know how to use technology better than they do.

Respondents view a personalized approach to learning as the most effective approach to education. Eighty-three percent said technology allows them to create a more personalized learning experience. However, most students in the U.S. and Germany indicate they spend two hours per day or less using technology at school, highlighting an opportunity to integrate technology into more curriculum areas and provide professional learning for teachers to achieve truly differentiated instruction.

“What we are seeing is that people around the world are increasingly understanding that digital learning will be critical to boosting every child’s achievement,” said Michael Horn, Innosight Institute’s executive director. “To unleash the power of technology, the important thing is to build new educational models or leverage existing proof points that allow us to rethink how school works and put the individual student at the center.

Dell Education Challenge to Support and Fund Innovative Learning Approaches
Dell is asking university students, the most recent participants in today’s education system, to help develop solutions to today’s biggest issues in education, including those identified in the poll. Continuing its commitment to inspiring innovation, the Dell Education Challenge is a spotlight challenge extending the partnership with the Dell Social Innovation Challenge (DSIC), managed by The University of Texas at Austin.

The Dell Education Challenge will identify and invest $30,000 in promising projects by university students working to transform and innovate learning in today’s primary/K-12 schools. Solutions can address in-school or out-of-school learning, the learning environment for both students or educators, or systemic issues with infrastructure, policy or administration. Dell will provide students who submit ideas with access to a global community that provides valuable feedback and encouragement on their projects to help make their ideas a reality.

Twenty semi-finalists will receive one-on-one mentoring from a DSIC-certified mentor to perfect their pitches. Finalists will be invited to Dell World this December to compete live in front of our judges for cash awards and support to advance their educational innovation.

More Information
For more information on the Dell Education Challenge, please visit www.dellchallenge.org/k12. Learn more about the Dell Education Challenge and get your questions answered in a special online meeting at noon CDT on September 26 at bit.ly/Ut5WMs or call 888-324-9651.

About DELL
Dell Inc. (NASDAQ: DELL) is committed to helping students develop the knowledge and skills they need to learn and succeed in an increasingly digital world and a globally competitive workforce. As a top provider of technology and services to schools, Dell listens to and works with students, educators, administrators, parents and community members around the world to deliver innovative technology and services that give them the power to do more in and out of the classroom. Learn more about Dell in Education at www.dell.com. Follow us on Twitter @DellEDU.

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TAP CAMPUS LIFE LET PLAYERS CREATE THEIR OWN SORORITY ON-THE-GO

For immediate release

Build the Hottest Sorority at School With Your iPhone or iPad in This Brand New Free App

SAN FRANCISCO, September 20, 2012 – Rush week starts now with Pocket Gems’ sorority and college experience game Tap Campus Life, now available for download in Apple’s App Store. Tap Campus Life gives players the power to personalize their own sorority by recruiting the women of their choice, hosting fabulous events and designing and decorating their sorority mansion. Tap Campus Life is the first next generation college-themed game in the App Store and has over 50 characters each with their unique backstory, custom animations and outfits.

Tap Campus Life is free for both the iPad and iPhone and with over 1 million downloads in 5 days in the App Store it quickly climbed to #15 on the Top Grossing chart now that school is back in session this fall. From decorating the sorority mansion to outfitting each girl in the house, Tap Campus Life is a fun and creative way for students to carry the college experience in their pocket. Tap Campus Life also features bite-sized, on-the-go gameplay making it perfect for study breaks or down time on the quad.

In Tap Campus Life the party never stops, as players recruit star athletes, party planners and the smartest women around. To make friends with awesome new sorority sisters, players will host events like bonfires on the beach and sorority formals while wearing and trading the hottest fashions. Players can build their dream sorority mansions and continue to expand and decorate while progressing through the game. All the fun and self-expression of the college experience comes together in Tap Campus Life, a game that combines personalization, college themes and the freedom to build the coolest new sorority at school.

Tap Campus Life is available for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch and can be downloaded for free in the App Store at (www.itunes.apple.com/app/tap-campus-life/id504634395?mt=8 ). With many more surprises and additions in store for Tap Campus Life, this is only the beginning of the college experience.

For more information please contact pocketgems@fortyseven.com

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Students Play Key Role on National Public Lands Day

Sept. 29 Event is Largest Single-Day Volunteer Effort for Public Lands

WASHINGTON, September 12, 2012 - College and university students across the nation will play a vital role in National Public Lands Day (NPLD) on September 29. Student volunteers will be part of an effort at more than 2,100 sites to sustain our parks, beaches, forests and other lands we conserve and use for outdoor recreation, education and enjoyment.

“NPLD is an opportunity to join other students and help your local parks and other public lands,” said Robb Hampton, Director, Public Lands Program at the National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF), which coordinates NPLD. “Service organizations on campuses that work with youths can also make NPLD an outing to connect with nature, or to get outside and be active that Saturday.”

Students can find a site to volunteer at www.publiclandsday.org/npld-sites or, alternatively, can coordinate and register a volunteering activity through National Public Lands Day OnCampus, in partnership with U.S. EPA (www.publiclandsday.org/highlights/national-public-lands-day-oncampus). The North-American Interfraternity Conference has also partnered with NPLD this year and will provide its member organizations information on volunteering and invite chapters to hold volunteering events.

More than 170,000 volunteers of all ages are expected on NPLD. There are now NPLD sites registered in every state, the District of Columbia and many U.S. territories. NPLD last year contributed an estimated $17 million in volunteer services to public lands, which include planting about 100,000 trees, shrubs and other native plants, as well as building and maintaining approximately 1,500 miles of trails.

Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc. is the event’s national sponsor for the 14th consecutive year. September 29th marks the event’s 19th year.

In recent years, college students in Florida helped remove invasive snails while learning about conservation in the Everglades. In Illinois, students maintained green spaces on campus by removing litter and planting native vegetation. In Washington state, students helped install compost bins, as well as honey bee and planter boxes.

NPLD is also a designated fee-free entrance day at many federal public lands including national parks. More information can be found at: www.publiclandsday.org.

NEEF is the nation’s leading organization in lifelong environmental learning, connecting people to knowledge they use to improve the quality of their lives and the health of the planet. We achieve this by providing knowledge to trusted professionals and other leaders who, with their credibility, amplify messages to national audiences to solve everyday environmental problems. Learn more at www.neefusa.org.

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Kathie Lee and Hoda Will Broadcast TODAY Live From a College Campus

Students and Schools Can Submit Their Campus on Twitter

NEW YORK, September 11, 2012 - Calling all co-eds! Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb are heading to college. The ladies of TODAY’s fourth-hour are looking to take over a college campus with the most school spirit for a live TODAY broadcast in October.

Schools and students can enter their college or university by tweeting. Grab “Today’s” attention on Twitter with creative and original messages using the hashtag #KLGandHodaU and the name of the school. Pictures and videos are encouraged. Entries will be accepted until September 16 at 9 a.m. ET.

‘Today” will pick the six schools that demonstrate the most spirit, and viewers will vote on which college they most want Kathie Lee and Hoda to visit.

Follow TODAY’s fourth hour, Kathie Lee, Hoda and Sara Haines on Twitter and visit TODAY.com for all updates about the challenge.

For more information: www.klgh.today.com/_news/2012/09/05/13678754-show-us-your-spirit-klg-and-hoda-could-invade-your-college?lite

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SIMPLETUITION ACQUIRES VALOREBOOKS TEXTBOOK MARKETPLACE

SimpleTuition Now Reaches Over 10 Million Students Per Year

BOSTON – September 10, 2012 – SimpleTuition, Inc., the leading provider of tips, advice and interactive tools that help students save on college-related expenses, announced today the acquisition of ValoreBooks, an online textbook marketplace which offers huge discounts on new and used textbooks as well as rentals.

“SimpleTuition is dedicated to helping students and their families afford the cost of college,” said Kevin Walker, co-founder and CEO of SimpleTuition. “When you think about where students spend their money, textbooks are a big expense. The team at ValoreBooks has built a tremendous marketplace that has some of the best textbook selection and prices available today. Additionally, they share our vision for helping students save by comparing their options. SimpleTuition has done it with student loans, and ValoreBooks has done it for new, used and rental textbooks. Bringing the two companies together is a natural fit and allows us to help over 10 million students and families a year.”

ValoreBooks was founded in 2002 and was an early pioneer in the online textbook market. It provides students with the lowest textbook prices by connecting them with sellers from all over the country. The ValoreBooks marketplace now boasts over 18 million titles from 20,000 sellers. Customers can easily compare prices on titles and even see new, used and rental options side-by-side.

“From the beginning, ValoreBooks has worked hard to help students save money,” said Bobby Brannigan, founder and CEO of ValoreBooks. “We’re excited to join SimpleTuition and help millions of new students save money in our textbook marketplace. What’s more, SimpleTuition’s other products will help our loyal customers and their families better plan for and manage college costs beyond textbooks.”

The acquisition of ValoreBooks is the latest move by SimpleTuition to expand its suite of products to help students and their families plan for the cost of college, save on expenses while in school, and manage and pay down their student debt. Adding to their award-winning student loan comparison tool, the company recently launched SmarterBucks™ and SmarterBank®, a rewards program and online checking account that help pay down any student loan. Previously, it released PayBackSmarter, a student loan repayment tool, and College Cost Adjuster, a tool that allows students to compare financial aid awards to see which school they can afford.

“Over the last year SimpleTuition has found new ways to help students throughout the lifecycle of paying for college,” continued Walker. “This begins in high school, but can extend well after graduation, when you consider the cost of paying back student loans. Bobby has built a fantastic money-saving tool, making ValoreBooks a powerful addition to our portfolio of products that help students save money while they’re in school. But, with the cost of education rising each year, we continue to look for more ways to help.”

About SimpleTuition, Inc.
Since its launch in 2006, SimpleTuition has helped more than 10 million families afford higher education. SimpleTuition.com features tips, advice, interactive tools and deals that ensure students plan better for college costs, pay less for college-related expenses, and be smarter about how they manage and pay back their student loans. In addition to SimpleTuition.com, the company manages SmarterBank, SmarterBucks and PayBackSmarter, a suite of products that help graduates manage and pay down their student debt. Named Best Financial Services Site by Kiplinger’s, SimpleTuition is headquartered in Boston, Mass., and is funded by Atlas Venture, Flybridge Capital Partners, and North Hill Ventures. For more information, visit SimpleTuition.com.

About ValoreBooks
Founded in 2002, ValoreBooks is dedicated to providing students textbook discounts and world-class customer service. Their textbook marketplace of over 20,000 sellers offers discounts up to 90% on over 18 million textbook titles and the lowest rental prices available. Sellers compete against each other to deliver savings that rival other online textbook providers and blow away on-campus textbook prices. Students can easily compare prices on new and used books and textbook rentals. ValoreBooks also provides textbook buyback to help students get money back at the end of the semester. For more information, visit ValoreBooks.com.
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Media Contact:
Jan Jahosky
407-331-4699
jan@jahosky.com

LONGBOARDS 101: The One-Minute Guide To Getting Your First Longboard

For immediate release

Please contact Melissa Horwitz at 503-281-5123 or email melissahorwitz@gmail.com

PORTLAND, Ore., September 4, 2012 – If you’ve been on campus for more than a minute, there’s a good chance that you’ve seen other students cruising around on longish skateboards called longboards. Like skateboards, longboards are a really good time. However, longboards differ from skateboards in that they are, well, longer and typically have big, soft wheels. Consequently, the boards are more stable and can obtain higher speeds (because the wheels are bigger) than skateboards. So it’s easy to get from Point A to Point B on a longboard. Add in the fact that longboards, unlike bikes, can be carried inside classrooms, and you have a pretty potent commuting machine.

If you’re intrigued and want to look into longboarding, here are a few things you should consider:

Board Shape
If your main concern is riding around campus, you will benefit much more by sticking to the basics. You can’t go wrong with a classic “pintail” shape board. They are modeled after surfboards – but much smaller – and are very easy to get around on. Another great style of board is known as a “drop-thru.” Drop-thru longboards have a unique truck (the axle) and wheel mounting system, which allows them to sit lower to the ground creating a more stable ride. Both styles of boards are made with a generous amount of flex. Flex helps provide for a more all-around comfortable and smooth ride.

Board Size
While a lot of companies make some enormous boards, for a good cruising-and-commuting board, you will want to stay in the range of 34″ to 40″ long. Boards in this size are generally stable enough for anyone to ride, and they’re lightweight enough to carry around anywhere you go.

Wheels
Like board size, when it comes to wheels, bigger definitely does not mean better. A standard longboard wheel is 70mm’s tall which is plenty big enough to make it over any cracks or rocks that are in your way. Using wheels that are taller than 70mm’s puts you at risk of your wheels hitting your board when you are turning. Since longboard wheels are so soft, any contact with your board will stop you abruptly and send you flying forward. To avoid this, it is highly recommended that you do not use anything larger than a 70mm wheel.

Keep these things in mind when picking out a longboard and you will be zipping around like a pro in no time. If you have any questions or just want to learn more, feel free to give us a call at Daddies Board Shop, the largest longboard online retailer in the country.

For more information on longboards, visit Daddies Board Shop, call us at 503-281-5123 or email help@daddiesboardshop.com.

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College Essentials – from Flip Flops to Toothpaste – Are Up For Grabs through the Target Stuff Scholarship Program

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   

Contacts: Kate Lohmuller, Target Communications, (612) 761-6863

Target Media Hotline, (612) 696-3400

MINNEAPOLIS (July 16, 2012) – This back-to-college season, Target® Corp. (NYSE: TGT) is offering college students a chance to win one of 16 unconventional scholarships through the Target Stuff Scholarship program. Candidates can enter to win by participating in interactive video interviews at TargetStuffScholarship.com, where an array of unusual prize packages – from a mini fridge and water pitchers to enough flip flops for an entire dorm – are up for grabs.

“Half the fun of going to college is shopping for all of the stuff you need,” says Stacia Andersen, senior vice president, merchandising, Target.  “For students who still need some of the essentials, the Target Stuff Scholarship program is an easy and fun way to compete for the gear that will make for a great school year.”

Beginning July 15, 2012, there will be three separate rounds of competition to win one of the 16 Target Stuff Scholarships. To apply, students will select the scholarship of their choice and then participate in a video interview with a panel of comedic professors who ask a series of fun and quirky questions. Students must then share the interview through their social media channels to garner votes from friends and family. At the end of each round, the five videos with the most votes will be reviewed by a panel of judges to determine the final winner.

A sampling of the 16 Target Stuff Scholarships include:

  • The Target Clean Teeth Scholarship: An electric toothbrush and a year’s supply of toothpaste
  • The Target Hangout Scholarship: Six bungee chairs, four beanbag chairs and two body pillows
  • The Target Dorm Gourmand Scholarship: A blender, a microwave, a grill, a hotplate, a toaster oven and a year’s supply of cereal
  • The Target Ink Scholarship: A printer, paper and enough ink to print four years’ worth of papers

For the full list of Scholarships that are available, visit TargetStuffScholarships.com.

These scholarships are just one of the many ways Target is helping students head back to college this year. With these customizable resources, Target takes one more thing off students’ to-do lists:

  • Target.com/college: As the ultimate back-to-college hub, Target.com/college offers savings, helpful resources and stylish dorm décor to fit every college style and need.
  • uStyler: New this year at Target.com/college is an online program that allows students to mix and match dorm room products as they begin shopping for their personalized look. Students can design their own virtual dorm room by test driving how different bedding and decorative accents look together. Students can then share their design with their roommates and other friends through Facebook, Twitter, blogs and Pinterest.
  • The Checklist: Available at Target.com/college, this customizable tool helps students organize and personalize their back-to-college shopping list. This year, The Checklist offers product recommendations – via filters and dropdowns – based on living situation for easy shopping. The Checklist can be printed at home or at a Target registry kiosk. The list can be shared via Facebook or sent to friends via a mobile device.
  • Fresh Product: Target is introducing all new back-to-college dinnerware and drinkware for 2012 that boast bright colors and bold patterns. The collection is microwave safe and stackable for easy storage. Also new this year are organic sheets, reversible comforters and jersey duvets.
  • Target After-Hours Busing Events: For the eleventh consecutive year, Target will host private after-hours shopping events for incoming freshman at 69 colleges and universities across the country. Throughout August and September, freshman students will be transported from their campus to Target for an evening of entertainment and exclusive offers, and be able to shop after-hours for any last minute items on their list. Students can check their school’s Facebook page to see if an event is scheduled for their college.

About Target

Minneapolis-based Target Corporation (NYSE:TGT) serves guests at 1,763 stores across the United States and at Target.com. The company plans to open its first stores in Canada in 2013. In addition, the company operates a credit card segment that offers branded proprietary credit card products. Since 1946, Target has given 5 percent of its income through community grants and programs; today, that giving equals more than $3 million a week. For more information about Target’s commitment to corporate responsibility, visit Target.com/hereforgood.

For more information, visit Target.com/Pressroom

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“Queen of Princesses” Meg Cabot makes triumphant return to Size 12!

NEW YORK, July 12, 2012 - First there was SIZE 12 IS NOT FAT. Then, there was SIZE 14 IS NOT FAT EITHER. You demanded BIG BONED. And now, Meg Cabot makes a triumphant return to her reader-favorite “Heather Wells” mystery series with SIZE 12 AND READY TO ROCK.

New York Times bestselling author Meg Cabot, who most know by her beloved “Princess Diaries” novels, was recently featured on VH-1 Celebrity, talking about Heather Wells, the fan-favorite heroine of Cabot’s “Size 12″ books. The author, known for her effervescent style, believes in empowering readers, through her own experiences, and her characters’ as well. VH-1 quoted Cabot, saying, “‘I wanted to write about a heroine who…has the same problems that I did ’cause I just found that I couldn’t find books like that but [whose heroines] also still have romances and sex and don’t need to lose weight to find guys, because I never had that problem, you know. I always got guys.’”

In SIZE 12 AND READY TO ROCK, readers are reunited with Heather Wells, who used to be a teen pop sensation…until her label dropped her for gaining a few extra pounds, and she walked in on her boy-band boyfriend Jordan Cartwright banging her pint-sized popstar replacement, Tania Trace. In the aftermath of this debacle, the last thing Heather expected were the plus-sized sparks that flared with Jordan’s big brother, Cooper.

But now that Heather and Cooper are ready to tie the knot, she’s determined to keep her new job at New York College’s aptly-nicknamed “Death Dorm” from throwing a wrench (and the many other deadly little surprises it’s thrown in the past) into her happily-ever-after plans. (Maybe not the “ever after” – Heather and Cooper have learned to take the words “until death do us part” very seriously!)

Now, in SIZE 12 AND READY TO ROCK, it’s summer break and the campus is quiet. But that doesn’t mean Heather can relax because that ambulance she just saw pulling up in front of Death Dorm is there for none other than Tania Trace, now married to – and pregnant by – Heather’s ex who just happens to be covered in his wife’s bodyguard’s blood.

Just another day at Death Dorm – or has America’s hottest couple got a deadly secret? Soon Heather’s dodging photo-hungry paparazzi and squealing fourteen and fifteen year-old pop star protégés after the first-ever Tania Trace Rock Camp – with its own reality film crew – checks into the dorm. But when one of the producers of Tania’s reality show checks out – on a gurney – it’s clear murder wasn’t taking the summer off.

Can Heather get estranged brothers Cooper and Jordan to bury the hatchet – before someone buries it into Cartwright Record’s biggest star? If the “reality” is that saving Tania’s life is what it takes to get her ex out of her life – and Cooper firmly into it, once and for all – Heather Wells is ready to rock, roll, and right some grievous wrongs!

Check out SIZE 12 AND READY TO ROCK, the latest in a series that “will leave readers begging for time-outs to control sudden laughing fits” (Publishers Weekly)!

About Meg Cabot

Meg Cabot was born during the Chinese astrological year of the Fire Horse, a notoriously unlucky sign, but learned at an early age that a good storyteller can always give herself a happy ending. Her books for both adults, teens, and tweens have included multiple #1 New York Times bestsellers, selling over sixteen million copies worldwide.

Born and raised in Bloomington, Indiana, Meg also lived in Grenoble, France and Carmel, California (the setting for her bestselling Mediator series) before moving to New York City after graduating with a bachelor’s degree in fine arts from Indiana University.

After working for ten years as an assistant residence hall director at New York University (an experience from which she occasionally draws inspiration for her Heather Wells mystery series (Size 12 Is Not Fat; Size 14 Is Not Fat Either; Big Boned—two new books in the series will be out in 2012 and 2013, including Size 12 and Ready to Rock), Meg wrote the Princess Diaries series, which has been translated into 38 languages and on which two hit feature films by Disney were based.

Meg also wrote the 1-800-Where-R-You? series (which has been reprinted under the title Vanished and was made into the Lifetime series called Missing), as well as numerous other award-winning, best-selling stand-alone books and series, including All-American Girl and Avalon High (on which an original Disney Channel movie was based), and several books told entirely in emails and text messages (Boy Next Door/Boy Meets Girl/Every Boy’s Got One).

Meg’s newest series include the hit middle grade series Allie Finkle’s Rules for Girls, Insatiable, a paranormal romance for adult readers, which was followed by a sequel, Overbite, in July 2011, and Abandon, a new paranormal series for YA readers (the sequel, Underworld, is in US stores in May 2012).

Meg Cabot (her last name rhymes with habit, as in “her books can be habit forming”) currently lives in Key West with her husband and two cats. He does not know he married a fire horse. Please don’t tell him!

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