For more information contact:  Valeria Davis, Wisconsin Department of Tourism, 800-236-7529

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

‘WHERE IN WISCONSIN IS JESSICA DOYLE?’ ANNOUNCES GRAND-PRIZE WINNERS

Madison, Wis. (June 3, 2008) – Students across the state submitted more than 30,000 entries during the 2007-2008 school year, trying to locate First Lady Jessica Doyle in her online game, “Where in Wisconsin is Jessica Doyle?” Two of those students were rewarded for their efforts with Grand Prize travel packages to explore Wisconsin with their families this week.

Ashli Sackette, a seventh grader at Madison Middle School in Appleton received a special trip for her family to explore Wisconsin’s Northwoods. Ashli received a two-night stay at The Waters of Minocqua, which has its own water park, tickets to the Fred Scheers Lumberjack Show, a $25 gift certificate toward dining at T. Murtaugh’s Pub and a $20 gift certificate to Lakeland Variety Store. Her prize is provided courtesy of the Minocqua-Arbor Vitae-Woodruff Area Chamber of Commerce and its partners.

Mason Rein, a fourth grader at Hackett Elementary School in Beloit, received a special trip to the Wisconsin Dells for his family. They will enjoy an overnight stay with water park privileges at Chula Vista Resort. They’ll also enjoy tickets to Jet Boat Adventures and the Tommy Bartlett Water Show, along with a $25 gift certificate for use at more than three-dozen attractions, restaurants and stores in Wisconsin Dells. His prize is provided courtesy of the Wisconsin Dells Convention and Visitors Bureau and its partners.

“The Governor and I congratulate Ashli and Mason and their teachers. I am grateful to the generous partners who have made these exciting Wisconsin travel opportunities possible. I especially want to thank the Chambers of Commerce and Convention Bureaus who have stepped up to provide wonderful prizes each week throughout the school year,” said First Lady, Jessica Doyle.

Wisconsin’s First Lady Jessica Doyle gave weekly hints to help students “find” her in more than 30 Wisconsin cities this past school year including: Dodgeville, Fountain City, DePere, West Allis, Rudolph, Bloomer, LaFarge, Kewaunee, Sauk Prairie, Ashland, Hudson, Gratiot, Cudahy, Sparta, Jacksonport and Amery. Each week, students in grades four through eight play the secure online game. Students who figure out the mystery city are entered in a weekly drawing for prizes. All students with correct answers are entered into a drawing for a grand prize getaway each semester.

This is the fifth year that First Lady Jessica Doyle and the Department of Tourism have teamed up to help students learn about Wisconsin’s culture, history, geography and travel. Weekly prizes help the students and their families explore communities and attractions across the state through the generosity of local sponsors. Each week, winning students receive a Family Passport to explore Wisconsin Historic sites and a gift card to Culver’s, an original Wisconsin business.

This past year, students with more experience in finding Mrs. Doyle could try their hand at a series of Challenge questions that required more in-depth knowledge and research on the featured mystery community. The Challenge continues this summer with more quizzes about Wisconsin and what families can explore across or state. For more information, visit http://whereisjessica.wi.gov.

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