Chicago-Area Teenager Wins National Art Contest Sponsored by National Geographic Kids and Xeko

Ulises Lopez of Winfield awarded family trip to Costa Rica

Chicago, IL (PRWEB) March 7, 2008 -- Winfield, Illinois, resident Ulises Lopez is the Grand Prize winner of a national drawing contest sponsored by National Geographic Kids magazine and Xeko for an eco-expedition for four to Costa Rica. Ulises and three of his family members will set sail on the National Geographic Expeditions ship Sea Voyager this month.

Ulises drew the Red-eyed Tree Frog, an amphibian whose large, vividly colored eyes are able to pop open suddenly and startle a predator long enough for it to escape. The frog is one of the most popular characters in the Xeko Mission: Costa Rica game collection. Xeko is an eco-adventure game that stars the wild animals of Earth's endangered habitats -- known as conservation "hotspots."

The expedition to Costa Rica includes airfare, meals, local transportation and accommodations for 8 days, and is valued at $23,000.

Ulises, age 14, and his family will soon have the chance to experience the wildlife featured in Xeko Mission: Costa Rica, from three-toed sloths to toucans to whales and other sea life.

Contestants between the ages of 6 and 14 were invited to submit artwork of their favorite Xeko species from the Mission: Costa Rica game, the second collection in the Xeko adventure series. Over 800 entries were received; in addition to the Grand Prize winner, 24 first- and second-prize winners were recognized for their submissions.

"Both National Geographic Kids magazine and the Xeko game appeal to young people who like animals and exploration, and this contest has been a fun and enriching way for the two companies to get kids excited about one of our planet's most amazing habitats," said Rainer Jenss, publisher of National Geographic Kids. "The quality of the artwork kids have submitted has been astounding, and the judging was great fun, though it was quite difficult to pick just one Grand Prize winner."

Xeko is a collectible trading card game that introduces kids to biodiversity and endangered species while taking them on an eco-adventure to Earth's conservation hotspots. Each collection of the Xeko game features one of the planet's hotspots and raises the level of awareness about the plights the ecosystem faces; habitats featured thus far include Madagascar, Costa Rica, and Indonesia. Xeko seeks to enlist the next generation of eco-leaders and inspires them to use their imaginations, inherent fascination with wildlife and creativity to protect these and other biological treasures.

National Geographic Kids magazine, published by the National Geographic Society, is the premier publication serving children ages 6 to 14.

National Geographic Expeditions, which furnished the trip for the contest, offers excursions and vacations worldwide that help connect families with nature. For more info visit: nationalgeographicexpeditions.com.

To learn more about Xeko and to view all winning entries, please visit xeko.com/contest.

About Matter Group, LLC -- By creating toys and games that turn kids into eco-adventurers, Matter Group, the maker of Xeko, hopes that kids will have fun while being inspired to preserve and protect our planet. The Seattle-based company launched the Xeko game on Earth Day 2006 and is currently working on projects to extend the Xeko entertainment property into television, film, and merchandise. www.xeko.com

Media Contact: Sarah Blanchard, Parsons Public Relations, 206-789-5668 or sarah@parsonspr.com

NOTE: Photo of Ulises Lopez available upon request.

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