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RaceTrac's Field Trip Assistance Initiative

 

Georgia school children strike gold with King Tut exhibition

FIELD TRIP ASSISTANCE INITIATIVE

Initiative Made Possible through Support from Atlanta-Based RaceTrac Petroleum

ATLANTA (Sept. 25, 2008) — In an effort to offset rising fuel prices that are a deterrent to school field trips, Georgia’s State Superintendent of Schools Kathy Cox, along with organizers of “Tutankhamun: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs,” announced that $200,000 in fuel will be made available to Georgia schools to assist with classroom visits to the exhibition, and up to 10,000 students will receive free entrance. The initiative is being made possible through the support of RaceTrac Petroleum, the third largest private company in Georgia. RaceTrac operates more than 525 retail gasoline convenience stores in 12 southeastern states.

 The U.S. premiere of the exhibition at the Boisfeuillet Jones Atlanta Civic Center will be presented by the Michael C. Carlos Museum of Emory University from November 15, 2008 to May 25, 2009. To further supplement classroom visits, a robust portfolio of educational content and lesson planning materials developed by the Carlos Museum is available for free at  www.kingtut.org or  www.carlos.emory.edu /teacher-programs .

 According to a survey by the American Association of School Administrators (AASA), released July 29, almost half of school districts nationwide are cutting back on field trips due to rising transportation costs.

 “This is a perfect example of how the business community can support the education of children,” said State Superintendent of Schools Kathy Cox. “The King Tut exhibit will allow students to see history and science firsthand, and this field trip would not be possible for most school districts without the generous support of RaceTrac and the exhibition organizers. This will truly be one of those remarkable field trips that students will remember for the rest of their lives, and I urge our educators across GA to take advantage of this opportunity that has the potential to benefit thousands of kids across the state.”

 All Georgia schools are eligible to participate in the fuel program on a first-come, first-served basis, which will benefit up to 80,000 students. Educators interested in participating in the program and receiving the fuel subsidy may do so by calling 866-52GROUP or visiting  www.goldengasoffer.com . 

 Participation in this program could possibly alleviate moratoriums on school bus availability in some local communities for field trips to this exhibition. Schools receiving free admittance will be designated by the Georgia Department of Education.

“We take our commitment to the community and local youth very seriously,” said Allison Moran, senior vice president of operations for RaceTrac. “As one of Georgia’s leading gasoline retailers, and with the current economic climate threatening school field trips, this assistance program is the perfect opportunity for us to give back to the community by providing local children with access to an invaluable educational experience.”

 “Tutankhamun: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs” is the second National Geographic exhibition dedicated to the remarkable treasures of King Tutankhamun and ancient Egyptian royalty. The first exhibition, “Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs,” has drawn 5 million visitors during its U.S. and London engagements, and has been visited by 250,000 schoolchildren since opening in June 2005.

 “We are indeed grateful to businesses like RaceTrac that are rallying much-needed resources to make Tutankhamun accessible to schoolchildren in Georgia,” said Bonnie Speed, director of the Michael C. Carlos Museum. “It takes an engaged community to understand the cultural and social significance of this exhibition – its power to kindle the imagination, build bridges across cultures and provide an unparalleled educational experience. We hope that school systems across Georgia will take advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

 “Tutankhamun: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs” is organized by National Geographic, Arts and Exhibitions International (AEI) and AEG Exhibitions, with cooperation from the Supreme Council of Antiquities in Egypt. Northern Trust is the presenting sponsor, and American Airlines is the official airline of the exhibition.

 “Seeing artifacts from King Tut and other Valley of the Kings tombs is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” said John Norman, president of Arts and Exhibitions International (AEI), one of the exhibition organizers. “We are committed to making every effort to ensure that this exhibition is accessible to students throughout the state, and RaceTrac’s sponsorship helps make this possible.”

ABOUT THE EXHIBITION

Premiering November 15, 2008 to May 25, 2009, at the Boisfeuillet Jones Atlanta Civic Center,

“Tutankhamun: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs” will feature striking objects from some of the most important rulers throughout 2,000 years of ancient Egyptian history, from the 4th Dynasty into the Late Period (about 2600 B.C. – 660 B.C.). Derived from a variety of contexts, including temples and royal and private tombs, many of these artifacts have never before visited the United States. 

 The exhibition will highlight more than 50 treasures from Tutankhamun’s tomb and more than 70 artifacts representing other pharaohs and notables, along with the latest scientific research about King Tut. The storyline will focus on the splendor of the Egyptian pharaohs, their function in the earthly and divine worlds, and what kingship meant to the Egyptian people.

 Four galleries devoted to King Tut will correspond to the four rooms of his nearly intact tomb where the treasures were discovered by British explorer Howard Carter in 1922. Legendary artifacts from the antechamber, the annex, the treasury and the burial chamber will include Tutankhamun’s golden sandals, jewelry, furniture, weaponry and statuary.

 For more information about the exhibition, visit  www.kingtut.org .

TICKET INFORMATION

School group bookings can be made at  www.goldengasoffer.com  or 1-866-52GROUP. For information about single tickets and hotel packages, please call 1-877-TUT-TKTS or visit  www.ticketmaster.com  or  www.carlos.emory.edu/tut .  

  About the Michael C. Carlos Museum of Emory University

The Michael C. Carlos Museum, founded in 1919, has long been dedicated to collecting, preserving, exhibiting, and interpreting art and artifacts from antiquity to the present. Some 16,000 artifacts from ancient Egypt, the Near East, Greece, Rome, the Americas, Asia, and sub-Saharan Africa, as well as works on paper from the Renaissance to the present day, provide visitors with a glimpse into the art and history of world cultures. The museum aims to provide unique opportunities for education and enrichment in the community, and to promote interdisciplinary teaching and research at Emory University. The Carlos Museum’s educational programming--with an active schedule of lectures, symposia, workshops, performances, and summer camps--benefits all who interact with the museum community. Annual participation from 100,000 visitors, 30,000 children, and almost 1 million internet users of Odyssey Online, Carlos Museum’s interactive Web site accessed by English-speaking classrooms around the world, reveals the Museum’s commitment to making art and artifacts relevant and accessible to all. In addition to conducting scientific analysis and treatment of museum collections, the Carlos Conservation Laboratory also offers teaching and training opportunities for students interested in pursuing careers in art, conservation, preservation, and science.  Located at the heart of Emory University's Atlanta campus, the Carlos Museum serves as the South's premier museum of ancient art.

ABOUT RACETRAC

RaceTrac Petroleum Inc., Georgia’s third largest private company, has been serving customers for over 74 years.  RaceTrac operates over 525 locations in 12 southeastern states under the RaceTrac and RaceWay brands, with over 50 locations in Metro Atlanta. RaceTrac stores, which are all company owned and operated, feature 20-24 fueling positions and a 4,000+ square foot convenience store with over 4,000 items available to satisfy the needs of its customers including fresh sandwiches, salads and other immediate consumables. For more information, visit racetrac.com. 

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