MLTI and the Maine Department of Education have joined forces with Freerice.com and the Good Shepherd Food-Bank to challenge students and sports fans, young and old, to a very different kinds of bowl game this February.

The Rice Bowl Challenge seeks schools and teams to compete for the Maine Rice Bowl Championship. The objectives? To feed the hungry in Maine and around the world by raising funds for the Good Shepherd Food-Bank and donating rice through the World Food Programme Freerice game. Get organized now!! The Challenge runs through February 12, 2011.

The Rice Bowl Challenge also seeks to improve your intellect and help fight world hunger at the same time. Good Shepherd Food-Bank, the MLTI and the United Nations World Food Programme have teamed up to host the online Rice Bowl Challenge. Learn online while helping fight global hunger by joining the Student team sponsored by MLTI.

How can you help? Think globally, act locally!!

THINK GLOBAL: Rice Bowl Challenge with FreeRice

The Rice Bowl Challenge sees two teams compete for the RiceBowl championship. The objective? To raise rice for WFP and beat global hunger while proving intellectual strength.

Super Bowl 2010’s Most Valuable Player Drew Brees and Freerice are challenging students and sports fans, young and old, to team up for a different kind of bowl game this February, with the goal of beating global hunger.

The challenge runs February 6 – 12, with results tallied daily. Three Brees-autographed footballs will go to the top players who rack up the most rice by February 12.

Leading the charge this year is the Students Team led by the Maine Department of Education’s 1:1 laptop program, the Maine Learning Technology Initiative (MLTI). MLTI has already begun its blitz to tackle hunger, organizing 100,000 students to battle for the Bowl. Are you a student? MLTI invites you to join the MLTI Student team.

To help you get ready, here are a few things to keep in mind:

The Freerice Bowl runs February 6 - 12, 2011
Usernames need to be created ahead of time. This means that every student who wants to play needs to be registered.
Registration can be done online
If students are under 14 years of age, they will need to register under their parent's email address or a teacher's. Teachers/schools can register up to 11 students under one email address. After completing the online registration form, an email will be sent to the email address you provide to confirm the account. This email account is also used for password reminders.
When creating usernames be sure to follow the naming convention of our state abbreviation_username. So "ME_USERNAME". Please keep in mind not to create a username that divulges a student's identity!!
Please encourage teachers, students, friends - anyone you think who may enjoy playing to register for the MLTI Student Team.

ACT LOCAL: Rice Bowl Challenge with Good Shepherd Food-Bank

Schools and organizations register your school or organization and get your own unique web page to accept donations to the Good Shepherd Food-Bank. Share your web page URL with your community and encourage them to help fight hunger here in Maine.

Make a donation to the Good Shepherd Food-Bank now. Donate in the name of your school or organization.

School and organizations’ donations totals will be updated daily. The school or organization that collects the most donations by February 12, 2011 wins!