Drink Tea...Get a Job!

NEW YORK, June 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Almost two million college graduates are unemployed and a recent survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers predicts companies will hire 22% fewer graduating seniors than they did last year. The Tea Council of the USA, Inc. is doing its share to help struggling college grads navigate the brutal job market.  Its "Sip of Success" contest offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a recent grad to prepare for a great career and experience a unique and thrilling adventure on tea plantations in India, Sri Lanka, Kenya and the USA.  College grads can create a two-minute video showing their passion for tea and knowledge of its many health benefits, for a chance to win this exciting prize.

(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100616/NY21620 )

(Photo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100616/NY21620 )

"We're launching this contest during National Iced Tea Month to continue educating the public, including young people, on the emerging science supporting the health-related benefits of drinking tea, as well as its delicious taste," explains Joe Simrany, President of the Tea Council of the USA.  "In the process, if we can help a worthy young professional enhance their resume and get a jumpstart on an exciting and fulfilling career, all the better."

This year's partners will include The Tea Board and the Tea Research Association of India, The Tea Board and the Tea Research Institute of Sri Lanka, as well as The Tea Board and the Tea Research Foundation of Kenya.  The winner will intern in all three host countries, as well as in the US.

One lucky college graduate will embark on the international internship mid-October of this year, with a tea tour of Darjeeling and Assam, India, the second largest global tea producer following China.  The winner will remain in Assam to begin a 6-week intensive training program, after which he or she will travel to Sri Lanka for another leg of the internship, and then on to Kenya for the final week, returning to the US in late December, 2010.  Sri Lanka and Kenya are the world's two leading tea exporters.

To top off the experience, in early January, 2011, the winner will participate in the US portion of the Dream Job internship at SalonTea, under the tutelage of nationally known tea entrepreneur Tracy Stern.

Tracy Stern SalonTea is a lifestyle brand that fuses fashion, style, art and tea, with several locations, including New York City, Dubai and Paris.  Stern is the national spokesperson for the Tea Council of USA "Sip of Success" contest. She uses tea to bring people together and believes that everyone should experience life through simple luxuries, including the perfect cup of tea.

"I am delighted to be working with the Tea Council of the USA on this exciting and worthwhile program," says Stern. "The opportunity to bring my passion for tea to a new generation of young entrepreneurs allows me to share how rewarding this career path can be." 

During the internship the winner will learn about all aspects of tea cultivation, processing and appreciation (cupping). He or she will live in Tea Estate Bungalows, which are actually beautiful homes built for the original British managers.

All entries must be original videos created by the entrants and must contain at least one valid message regarding the health benefits of tea, specifically black, green, white or oolong tea. Open to legal residents of the United States and Puerto Rico, who are recent college graduates at least 18 years of age, all entries must be received electronically at www.teausa.org/sipofsuccess no later than midnight on Tuesday, September 7, 2010.  

Final judging will be conducted by a panel of representatives of the Tea Council of the USA, Inc. based on the following criteria: HEALTH-RELATED MESSAGE (50%), CREATIVITY (20%), INDIVIDUALITY (20%) and POPULARITY (10%).  Entries that contain any nudity, sexual content, inappropriate language, unsuitable behavior or adult material will be automatically discarded and not considered for submission.  

For more information and to submit a video for consideration, please visit www.teausa.org/sipofsuccess.

ABOUT THE TEA COUNCIL OF THE USA:

The Tea Council of the USA is a non-profit association that was formed in 1950 as a joint partnership between tea packers, importers and allied industries within the United States, and the major tea producing countries.  It functions as the educational arm of the tea industry with a primary goal of increasing overall awareness of tea by providing information about its many positive attributes.  One of the Council's primary objectives is the dissemination of key scientific findings about tea to the public.  The Tea Council does this in several ways including: funding scientific meetings to bring tea researchers from around the world together to share key information and identify next steps for future research projects; and working with health organizations and international scientists to disseminate information about potential positive health effects of tea consumption on a public level.  

SOURCE The Tea Council of the USA