Heinz Ketchup Creativity™ Contest Spreads Excitement in Announcing Finalists

PITTSBURGH--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Heinz Ketchup is spreading the excitement with the announcement of the finalists in the annual Heinz Ketchup Creativity^™ Contest. Tens of thousands of colorful entries poured in for this year’s contest, and celebrity pop artist Burton Morris and a panel of judges have narrowed the field to 36 talented finalists. It’s up to America to vote for their favorite ketchup packet designs at www.KetchupCreativity.com.

This year’s contest and prizes are better than ever. For the first time, a grand prize winner will be selected from the 12 winners and that student’s artwork will appear on Heinz^® Ketchup bottles in stores across the country. That student will receive a $5,700 cash prize and a school visit from internationally acclaimed artist Burton Morris.

“I’m honored to return as a judge this year, and I continue to be inspired by the creativity shown in the students’ entries,” said Burton Morris. “It was difficult to choose just 36 finalists from so many imaginative designs. The students’ passion for Heinz Ketchup came through in this year’s colorful entries.”

Each of the 12 winners’ artwork will be reproduced on approximately 20 million Heinz Ketchup packets — more than 200 million packets combined — and their artwork will be displayed in the winners’ gallery at www.KetchupCreativity.com. The 12 winners also will receive a $1,000 cash prize while their schools receive $1,000 toward art supplies, a voucher for $1,000 worth of Heinz Ketchup and a poster of the winner's artwork. In addition, a grand prize winner will be chosen from the 12 winners and that student will receive $5,700, have their artwork reproduced on Heinz Ketchup bottles and receive a school visit from Burton Morris.

“We’re so pleased with the enthusiastic response to the Heinz Ketchup Creativity Contest,” said Erin Catalina, associate brand manager for Heinz Ketchup. “We continue to see the love for America’s Favorite Ketchup^® in these entries year after year.”

And the Finalists are: Top Three in Each Grade Selected

Kindergarten/First Grade

• Luke Brown, Gospel Light Christian School, Walkertown, N.C.
• Tiernan McCulloch, Home School, Morgantown, Pa.
• Jordan Paolello, Woodbrook Elementary School, Edison N.J.

Second Grade

• Nia-Isabella Garza, Hudson Elementary, Brownsville, Texas
• Elvia Lopez, Crestview Elementary School, Merriam, Kan.
• Payton Miller, Monart School of Art, Washington, Pa.

Third Grade

• Jordan De La Rosa, John H. Shary Elementary, Mission, Texas
• Mariah O’Hara, Buckhannon Academy Elementary, Buckhannon, W.Va.
• Sydney Wichmann, Mila Elementary, Merritt Island, Fla.

Fourth Grade

• Eliza Browning, Connecticut Art School, South Windsor, Conn.
• Rachel Carlisle, Monart School of Art, Washington, Pa.
• Lia Guerette, Connecticut Art School, South Windsor, Conn.

Fifth Grade

• Kasey Lucia, Connecticut Art School, South Windsor, Conn.
• Danielle Lamboy, Our Lady of Good Counsel School, Cleveland, Ohio
• Natalie Paliulis, Connecticut Art School, South Windsor, Conn.

Sixth Grade

• Bianca Ayala, David A. Brown Middle School, Wildomar, Calif.
• Megan Foshee, Floyd Middle Magnet School, Montgomery, Ala.
• Rani Viroja, Connecticut Art School, South Windsor, Conn.

Seventh Grade

• Katherine Amick, Waukee Middle School, Waukee, Iowa
• Paige Charlick, Centennial Middle School, Dade City, Fla.
• Kira Nixon, Home School, Fort Hill, Pa.

Eighth Grade

• Zoie Bowden, FSUS High School, Tallahassee, Fla.
• Albert Munoz III, Lucio Middle School, Brownsville, Texas
• Dustin Nguyen, Luther Memorial School, Richmond, Va.

Ninth Grade

• Austin Schaible, Falls City High School, Falls City, Neb.
• Katie Schmitz, Incarnate Word Academy, St. Louis, Mo.
• Brianna Stoner, Southeast High, Lincoln, Neb.

Tenth Grade

• Brandon De La Rosa, Edinburg High School, Edinburg, Texas
• Jasmyne Douglas, Byron P. Steele II High School, Cibolo, Texas
• Chloe Johnson, Byron P. Steele II High School, Cibolo, Texas

Eleventh Grade

• Synclaire Kaptur, Lyman High, Longwood, Fla.
• Cody Lawrence, Sherman Oaks, C.E.S., Tarzana, Calif.
• Victoria Simonian, McDowell High School, Erie, Pa.

Twelfth Grade

• Alberto Enriquez, San Luis High School, San Luis, Ariz.
• Nicole Strang, Claudia Taylor Johnson High School, San Antonio, Texas
• Carmela Zabala, Naples High School, Naples, Fla.

Voting is open from 12:00:00 a.m. EDT March 22, 2010 to 11:59:59 p.m. EDT March 27, 2010. The winners will be announced in April.

About Heinz

H.J. Heinz Company, offering “Good Food Every Day”™ is one of the world’s leading marketers and producers of healthy, convenient and affordable foods specializing in ketchup, sauces, meals, soups, snacks and infant nutrition. Heinz provides superior quality, taste and nutrition for all eating occasions whether in the home, restaurants, the office or “on-the-go.” Heinz is a global family of leading branded products, including Heinz® Ketchup, sauces, soups, beans, pasta and infant foods (representing over one third of Heinz’s total sales), Ore-Ida® potato products, Weight Watchers® Smart Ones® entrees, T.G.I. Friday’s® snacks, and Plasmon infant nutrition. Heinz is famous for its iconic brands on six continents, showcased by Heinz® Ketchup, The World’s Favorite Ketchup®. Information on Heinz is available at www.heinz.com.

About Burton Morris

A proponent of art education, Burton Morris credits his teachers and parents for encouraging him to pursue his passion and career as an artist. The Pittsburgh native earned his degree in fine arts from Carnegie Mellon University. He gained national attention when his art was chosen to hang on the set of the hit sitcom, Friends. Known for creating high-energy, fun pieces, Burton Morris original artwork is featured in collections around the world. The artist draws his inspiration from pop culture, like the iconic Heinz® Ketchup bottle, which he says he grew up with. Information on Burton

Morris is available on the Heinz Ketchup Creativity™ Web site at www.KetchupCreativity.com/meet.aspx.

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