Dallas/September 30, 2009 – Comerica Bank announced today that the second annual Comerica Bank Vote for the Float competition is open to all independent school district (ISD) middle schools in Dallas County this year. Floats will be designed around the 2010 parade theme “Celebrate Entertainment!”
“We are delighted to invite middle school students throughout Dallas County to participate in Vote for the Float, and we look forward to seeing their creativity come to life in front of thousands of parade attendees and television viewers,” says Connie Beck, Executive Vice President of The Retail Bank, Comerica Bank.
Comerica Bank will present the first place winning school with a $12,500 check, the second place school with a $6,000 check, the third place school with a $3,000 check and each of the remaining seven winning schools with $500 checks.
All entries are due by midnight Nov. 6, 2009. Entries will be judged by the following committee:
• Connie Beck, EVP, The Retail Bank, Comerica
• The Honorable John Carona, Texas State Senator
• Steve Eagar, Anchor, Fox 4 News
• Brian Fridge, Dallas-based Contemporary Artist
• Michael Jenkins, President & Managing Director, Dallas Summer Musicals
• The Honorable Royce West, Texas State Senator
The Top 10 float designs selected from county-wide entries will be built and featured in the 2010 Comerica Bank New Year’s Parade on January 1, 2010 in downtown Dallas.
The Top 10 floats will be judged “American Idol style” by parade attendees and viewers who send text messages via AT&T Mobility. Voting will begin at the start of the parade on January 1, 2010, and conclude at 11:59 p.m. on January 2, 2010. Votes will be tabulated by AT&T and certified by the independent accounting firm of Ernst & Young. Voters can also go to www.comericabankparade.com to vote for their favorite floats during the same time period. More than 18,000 votes were received via text message and online for last year’s contest.
The winning float will be announced on January 8, 2010.
Last year, 56 entries were received from more than 20 middle schools in Dallas ISD. Greiner Exploratory Arts Academy took first prize with its design called “Save the Earth” featuring a giant globe and Dallas’ skyline. Second prize was awarded to J.L. Long Middle School for “All Roads Lead Home” and third prize went to Quintanilla Middle School for “Keep Dallas Clean.”
“Winning last year’s top prize was a really special achievement for our students and school,” says W.E. Greiner Exploratory Arts Academy teacher Joanna Henry. “We’re excited to compete this year against all of the middle schools in Dallas County and look forward to seeing the creativity from neighboring districts.”
For more information about the contest, please call Erin Ragsdale at 214.871.7723.
About Comerica
Comerica Incorporated (NYSE: CMA) is a financial services company headquartered in Dallas, Texas, and strategically aligned by three business segments: The Business Bank, The Retail Bank, and Wealth & Institutional Management. Comerica focuses on relationships, and helping people and businesses be successful. In addition to Texas, Comerica Bank locations can be found in Arizona, California, Florida and Michigan, with select businesses operating in several other states, as well as in Canada and Mexico. Comerica reported total assets of $63.6 billion at June 30, 2009. To receive e-mail alerts of breaking Comerica news, go to http://www.comerica.com/newsalerts.
