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Southwest Airlines Community

Putting on Our Game Face

KarenPriceWard
Employee
Employee
Hurricane threats, thunderstorms, nor rain on game day can't keep Southwest Airlines away from the Prince George's Classic in Maryland for the last four years. Can you believe it has rained for the past three years?  But, this year's forecast was perfect -- sunny and in the 80s. The Prince George's Classic is a one-stop, educational, and cultural extravaganza.  The Classic supports seven local high schools with the Battle of the Marching Bands, which is one of my favorite, family events.  I enjoy seeing the disciplined musical students dance and perform. In fact, all of the seven distinguished bands have traveled across the country to perform.  One of the bands, Oxon Hill Marching Band, is even honored to be selected to perform at the 2008 Olympics in China. What a privilege! The Classic includes following events: a golf tournament that supports a local charity; the college fair, step show, and football game that supports many Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs); a high energy, dazzling fashion show featuring top designers; and the Prince George's Black Chamber of Commerce Kick-off Reception attended by CEOs and politicians.  Congressman Albert Wynn (D-MD) is a dedicated supporter, and you can always count on seeing him at the events inspite of his busy schedule. Southwest Airlines was pleased to once again support the Annual Prince George's Classic as the Official Airline.  Since the Classic's inception in 2003, Southwest Airlines' Corporate Community Affairs Department has supported this cultural extravaganza, which is the vision of Mike Little, National Black Chamber of Commerce Chairman, business owner, and President of the Classic.  The vision of the Southwest Airlines Corporate Community Affairs Team is to build strategic relationships across the country focusing on the Hispanic, African American, and Asian communities.  Our target areas are business, legislative, and education.  For the past four years and to further support education, Southwest Airlines has partnered with Bowie State University American Marketing Association students to conduct a marketing research project on the Classic.  The students compile information collected from the football fans on game day and present their findings later in the year.  Well, it certainly is tradition that HBCU football classics are a part of Southwest Airlines' history.  So, hopefully, the tradition and history will continue to dazzle football fans as they enjoy a good competitive game and the best part of them all-- the Battle of the Bands. 
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