Don't Mess with Texas Scholarship Program

Litter-Themed Essays Equal College Cash
Don*t Mess with Texas Scholarship Program begins March 8

AUSTIN, Texas-Texas high school seniors can earn cash for college by composing a 350-word essay suggesting additional measures to be used in the state*s fight against litter.

Dow Chemical Company is partnering with Keep Texas Beautiful to sponsor the 2010 Don*t Mess with Texas Scholarship Program. High school seniors are encouraged to submit essays explaining how they tackled a litter-related problem in their own school or community. The grand-prize winner will receive $3,000 for college tuition, while two second-place winners will receive $1,000 each.

*Here at Dow, we know that ensuring the health and sustainability of our environment takes a commitment from everyone, but particularly our youth,* said Community Relations Manager Trish Ritthaler. *We*re proud to sponsor a program that encourages high school seniors to come up with great ideas for litter prevention while enabling the winners to get support in furthering their educations.*

The Texas Department of Transportation spends millions of dollars each year to pick up litter along Texas highways, and research shows those most likely to litter are young Texans.

*If you don*t tolerate litter, and if you*ve ever done something about it, you have a great shot at winning,* said Doris Howdeshell, Travel Information Division director for the Texas Department of Transportation, which manages the Don*t Mess with Texas Scholarship Program.

Eligible high school seniors must plan to pursue a two- or four-year degree at a Texas university or college. Essays must be 350 words or less and will be accepted starting March 8. Apply online, download an application, and view complete rules at DontMessWithTexas.org.

Completed applications and essays must be submitted online or postmarked by April 16, 2010. Mailed entries should be sent to the Don*t Mess with Texas Scholarship Program c/o EnviroMedia Social Marketing at
1717 West 6th Street, Suite 400; Austin, TX 78703.

About Don*t Mess with Texas
Don't Mess with Texas has been educating Texans about litter prevention since 1986. TxDOT*s litter prevention program includes Adopt-a-Highway and a grassroots partnership with Keep Texas Beautiful. Don*t Mess with Texas activities also include a spring *Trash-Off,* community outreach, a scholarship and a corporate partner program. For more information, visit www.DontMessWithTexas.org. TxDOT*s goals are to reduce congestion, enhance safety, expand economic opportunity, improve air
quality, and increase the value of transportation assets. For more information, visit www.txdot.gov.

About Dow
The Dow Chemical Company connects chemistry and innovation with the principles of sustainability to help address many of the world's most challenging problems such as the need for clean water, renewable energy generation and conservation, and increasing agricultural productivity. Dow's diversified industry-leading portfolio of specialty chemical, advanced materials, agrosciences and plastics businesses delivers a broad range of technology-based products and solutions to customers in
approximately 160 countries and in high growth sectors such as electronics, water, energy, coatings and agriculture. More information about Dow can be found at www.dow.com.