Voting kicks off for

Cellcom's Project Innovate

Voting for Cellcom's Project Innovate kicked off this week. Project Innovate is a community voting challenge that is giving nine high schools in the Northwoods a chance to win one of three cash prizes totaling $50,000 to be used for classroom technology. The high schools participating in the 2012 Northwoods challenge are Antigo, Crandon, Florence, Gilman, Lakeland Union, Laona, Merrill, Tomahawk and Wabeno.

Voting runs until midnight on Nov. 19. The school with the most votes at the end of the voting period will be awarded a $30,000 grand prize exclusively for the purchase of technology. The first prize winner will receive $15,000 and second prize is $5,000.

Schools can use their winnings to equip classrooms with SMART boards, an LCD projector, lap tops, software for games or virtual simulations, tablets and net books, or other technology to advance learning. Cellcom believes that providing these tools to teachers and students will inspire innovation and increase academic achievement.

Small and large schools can win Project Innovate. "The community voting program hinges on mobilizing a school's supporters," said Brighid Riordan, director of Public Affairs for Cellcom. "It's all about word of mouth, and it may be easier for a small school to rally their community. The key to success in Project Innovate is to tell as many people as you can to vote for your school and to be creative." In 2010 and 2011, the grand prize winners were one of the smallest schools in the competition.

Anyone age 13 and up is eligible to vote, regardless of location. Each individual can vote one time and an email address is required to vote. To vote, visit www.cellcom.com or www.facebook.com/cellcom and click on the Project Innovate link. Cellcom will notify winners on Nov. 28.

"Cellcom's ultimate goal is to give back to education locally," said Riordan. "Equipping a school with the latest in technology is high on the wish list of many educators and students, but budget concerns can make these items less attainable. Project Innovate aims to bridge the gap and give schools the opportunity to create the ultimate classroom."