Contest looking for best texters
Teens, warm up your fingers and thumbs. The first All City Texting Championship is March 15.
Central Valley High School sophomores Brooke Jackson and Kassie Panther were looking for project for their advanced business marketing class. They wanted to do a fundraiser, and after seeing news on a national texting championship, the answer seemed obvious.
“It’s something everyone can do, and it’s easy and fun,” Panther said. “We’re both big texters.”
They’ve visited every Greater Spokane League school to publicize the event and sent fliers to schools in outlying areas including Coeur d’Alene, Davenport and Cheney. The event will be from noon to 6 p.m. at CV, 821 S. Sullivan Road. Registration will begin at 11 a.m. Students will be compete in brackets based on whether they have a keyboard or keypad on their cell phone. The competition is only open to high school students.
Participants will be shown a paragraph and get between 15 and 20 seconds to text as much as they can. “You have to spell it out verbatim,” said Panther, so no fair taking shortcuts.
They’ve had some success at lining up sponsors for prizes. The girls have had a lot of time to refine their sales pitch. “At first it was hit or miss,” Panther said. “As we went on we got more successful.”
“We’ve been working on this project since October,” Jackson said. “We’ve been really lucky as far as sponsors.”
The winner in each division will earn $500 in cash and prizes. Second- and third-place winners will also get prizes and cash. The event also includes food vendors, arcade games, and T-shirts for sale. The money raised will benefit the Help Hayden Walk Cerebral Palsy Fund to help 6-year-old Hayden Stipe, who is undergoing treatment for cerebral palsy. Jackson said she is acquainted with the family and knows they’re facing large medical expenses. The goal is to raise $5,000 at the event. “Anything over that is just a plus,” Jackson said.
The registration fee is $3 for Central Valley students or $5 for other high school students by Friday, or $7 at the door. Students can call 998-4513 to register or get a registration form from their school’s DECA adviser.