WASHINGTON, D.C., June 2, 2008 - The Intelligent Transportation Society of America (ITS America) announces a call for entries for the 2008 Student Essay Competition, sponsored by Southwest Research Institute®. ITS America's Student Essay Competition is designed to encourage student interest and future participation in the development of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS). Three winners will be honored at the 15th World Congress on Intelligent Transport Systems in New York City, November 16-20, 2008.

"Southwest Research Institute is proud to challenge today's transportation and systems engineering students to apply their knowledge in this thought-provoking competition to encourage forward-thinking ITS solutions," said Dr. Steven W. Dellenback, ITS Department Director, Southwest Research Institute. "As a leader in the ITS research and development arena, we are pleased to support this ITS America initiative to foster and encourage the intelligent transportation specialists of the future."

Essays will be judged on their creativity, quality of exposition, originality, depth of knowledge and awareness of ITS issues and challenges. Both graduate and undergraduate students are eligible to participate.

For the list of topics and entry guidelines, visit http://www.itsworldcongress.org/student-essay-competition.html. The deadline for entries is 5 p.m. (EST) on September 30, 2008.

The winners will receive complimentary registration, airfare and accommodations to attend the 15th World Congress on Intelligent Transport Systems. The winners will present their essays to the ITS community during the conference's Research, Integration, Training and Education Forum Showcase.

Hosted by the Intelligent Transportation Society of America (ITS America), ERTICO and ITS Japan, the 15th World Congress on Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) will be held at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City from November 16-20, 2008. The 15th World Congress on ITS will be combined with ITS America's 2008 Annual Meeting and Exposition, making it the largest ITS event in 2008, expected to attract 10,000 transportation, technology and business professionals. Delegates to the 15th World Congress on ITS will have access to more than 200 extraordinary education sessions, exciting technical tours, a 250,000-square-foot exhibit hall, live vehicle communications demonstrations on the streets and highways of New York and limitless opportunities to connect with an international audience in a world-class city. For the latest information, visit www.itsworldcongress.org.

Southwest Research Institute (SwRI®), headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, is one of the oldest and largest independent, nonprofit, applied research and development (R&D) organizations in the United States. Founded in 1947, SwRI provides contract research and development services to industrial and government clients worldwide and is a recognized leader in creating advanced ITS systems and technology. SwRI's headquarters offers two million square feet of office and laboratory space on a more than 1,200-acre site in San Antonio. The Institute serves clients from more than 20 locations worldwide. www.swri.org

The Intelligent Transportation Society of America (ITS America) is the leading advocate for ITS development and deployment in the United States. ITS America was established in 1991 as a not-for-profit organization to foster the use of advanced technologies in surface transportation systems. Members include corporations, public interest groups, universities, research laboratories and government agencies at all levels. ITS America works closely with the U.S. Department of Transportation in support of the national ITS program and serves as an invaluable resource to its members in the areas of technology, domestic public policy, international relations and business development. For more information, visit www.itsa.org.

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