‘It’s Academic’-themed Reusable Bag Arrives at Giant-Landover
The winning entry in the reusable shopping-bag design contest held by Landover, Md.-based Giant Food LLC, in celebration of the 50th anniversary of Washington-area TV student quiz show “It’s Academic,” is now available in stores. The contest was open to local high school students in Washington, Maryland, and Virginia, and from the more than 250 entries received, a design by Worachet Boon Sakprayoonpong, a senior at George Mason High School in Falls Church, Va., was chosen (left).
Giant honored Boon’s achievement with a July 26 launch party and ice cream social at the Falls Church Giant Food. “It’s Academic” producer Susan Altman, Principal Byrd of George Mason High School, friends, family members and store associates and shoppers gathered to mark the occasion.
“I was so surprised and honored when I learned my ‘It’s Academic’ design was the first-place winner,” said Sakprayoonpong. “I’m very excited to finally see my art on the bags. It’s pretty amazing to see my art hanging all over this store.”
Thousands of reusable bags featuring the design can be purchased in Giant Food stores across the region for 99 cents each, raising funds for local schools. Along with having bags with his design sold at the grocery chain, Boon received a $1,500 scholarship.
“Giant’s reusable bag design contest gave us a wonderful opportunity to showcase the artistic abilities of our region’s youth and help commemorate the 50th anniversary of ‘It’s Academic,’” noted Giant Food public and community relations manager Jamie Miller. “Boon is a promising young artist, and we couldn’t be more pleased with the bag.”
To qualify, all designs had to fit in a 12-inch-by-12-inch square; incorporate Giant’s four colors (yellow, red, purple, green); include the program title “It’s Academic”; and refer to the 50th anniversary. Entries were evaluated by art professors and art department directors from community colleges in the region, according to appropriateness to theme, craftsmanship, composition, color combination, and creativity and originality.
A division of Ahold USA, Giant Food operates 174 supermarkets in Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, and the District of Columbia, and employs about 22,000 associates. Included within the 174 stores are 160 full-service pharmacies.
“It’s Academic,” which airs on NBC4 in Washington, has been recognized by “The Guinness Book of World Records” as the longest-running TV quiz show in the world. Each year, hundreds of secondary schools of all types compete on the program. Giant Food has been a sponsor of the show since 1967.