Are you passionate about film? Well, Amtrak® is pulling out all the stops in search of the most creative, innovative student movie makers in Illinois, Michigan, Missouri and Wisconsin.

Upload an original train travel-related video by February 28, 2011. The top 2 finalists are selected by travel and entertainment industry experts. America will vote to select the winner in April. The winning video will be featured on National Train Day and in future Amtrak promotions!

How to Enter

- Submit an original train-related video
- Complete entry form
- Upload video by February 28, 2011

Enter at www.amtraktrainsportationvideocontest.com

Heading home? Returning to school? Visiting your friends? Planning a Spring Break? Amtrak makes it easier than ever to get together. With more than 500 destinations and service in 46 states, save everywhere you go. Be sure to reserve your tickets 3-days in advance to SAVE 15%* on rail fares!

Enroll today and start saving on travel.

eBags.com reports that at the beginning of May, Apple had sold 1 million iPads. Some quick searches on Google show that people are definitely searching for ways to protect their new devices.

To keep your iPad protected and looking sleek, screen protectors and cases are crucial. Look for cases that protect your tablet without compromising the operation or appearance of the device. Check out the iPad cases, skins and sleeves available right now at eBags.com. Here are some of my top picks:

Brenthaven Switch Satchel iPad / Netbook Case

Brenthaven designs high-performance laptop bags to survive the rigors of everyday life… on the open road, at school, in the home or in the office. The Switch Satchel features a patent-pending reversible flap! Just ‘flip it and clip it’ for a whole new style. Features a custom fit compartment for iPad.

Hard Candy Cases iPad Sleek Skin

Hard Candy Cases combine new, attention-grabbing designs with outstandingly protective and innovative case features. The  iPad Sleek Skin is constructed of exceptionally shock-absorbing TPU rubber that won’t stretch or surrender. Easier cleaning AND snap-on integrated screen enclosure.

Case Logic 10.2″ Netbook/iPad Sleeve

Case Logic’s innovative organization solutions support your mobile lifestyle. Form fitting sleeve accommodates netbooks, iPads and mini laptops with up to 10.2″ screens. The Slimline design includes durable neoprene lining cushions that protects your device.

Higher Ground 10″ Flak Jacket

Higher Ground provides exceptional protection and value with the Flak Jacket. Shock absorbing foam (more advanced than neoprene) and corrugated plastic stiffeners provide complete protection for your iPad in a slim, lightweight solution. Becomes a lap desk when device is removed!

Nuo Chloe Dao for Nuo™ Envelope Clutch 10.2″

From Project Runway winner Chloe Dao – experience the best of fashion and function with the Chloe Dao for Nuo™ Clutch Style Netbook/iPad Envelope. Anti-scratch poly-cotton velvet lining and checkpoint-friendly design (device can stay in sleeve while going through airport security).

eBags offers a 110% price guarantee, free returns on all orders and savings of up to 70% MSRP. Plus, don’t forget that Cardholders get an extra 10% OFF and FREE Shipping at eBags.com. The Student Advantage discount can be applied to all the products listed above excluding Hard Candy Cases.

We’re all guilty of reading trashy magazines from time to time (or, if you’re like me, each and every week!) – Now’s the time to put all of that celeb gossip knowledge to good use. Finally, your wallet will thank you for all those hours spent reading US Weekly and watching E!

Bluefly.com is hosting a contest called Closet Confessions. Every week, Bluefly.com posts a Closet Confession from a celebrity (complete with a tour of his/her closet and commentary about his/her favorite designers and to-die-for pieces). But, before Bluefly.com posts the confession, you will have six days worth of hints to help you guess who that week’s celebrity confessor will be! This week’s confession premiers on June 16th, 2010 – So, if you think you’ve got the eye to guess which celeb it will be, make your prediction and win $200 to Bluefly.com!!!!

Dying to share your closet confession just like these celebrities? You can! Share your style with the world: pick your favorite item, take a picture, and post it. Each month Bluefly.com will award $500 to the Bluefly.com user whose look has the most votes. So, go through your closet, get your glam on, pose for a paparazzi photo, and post it for your chance to be like the Celebrity Confessors and for the chance to win $500 from Bluefly.com!

Plus, don’t forget that Cardholders get $15 OFF purchases of $75 or more at Bluefly.com throughout the year!

Many popular shopping sites and major brands offer mobile versions of their search tools, which can be especially useful for students that are always on the go. One out of five shoppers said they planned to use their cellphones to complete purchases and comparison shop last holiday season, according to an annual survey by Deloitte, the accounting and consulting firm.

While searching for prices using a mobile device has been fairly simple, completing a purchase on-screen often involves clicking to the retailer’s Web site, which may not customized for a mobile phone’s tiny display. However, many online retailers are revamping the mobile versions of their content so that consumers can make purchases without serious difficulty.

If you have a mobile browser on your phone, check out some of the popular brands that enable searches, purchases AND discounts:

American Airlines – Simply visit American Airlines’ website (AA.com) from your mobile phone or PDA, and the website will detect your mobile browser and serve up the streamlined version of the website where you can:

• Book flights and use your American Airlines student discount via promotion code
• Locate fares sales and special offers
• Check-in and manage your American Airlines itinerary
• Check flight status
• Enroll in AAdvantage and manager account

Amtrak – With a customized content interface for each device, screen space is maximized and content is organized especially for handheld devices and mouseless navigation. Just type www.amtrak.com, Amtrak2go.com or amtrak.mobi from your web-enabled mobile device and you can:

• Make a reservation and use your Amtrak student discount via Card number
• Check train status
• Access your Amtrak.com and Amtrak Guest Rewards accounts
• Sign up for train alerts

A|X Armani Exchange – The A|X Mobile website offers the same features as their standard website, but is formatted to fit your mobile device. Plus, you can still access you A|X Armani Exchange student discount via Card number.

Mother’s Day is May 9th, which is just around the corner. Trying to find the perfect gift for the person who has loved you your entire life and holds you dearly to her heart can be difficult. If you’re a last minute gifter or you’re dealing with a serious budget, check out the 1800Flowers.com Spot A Mom Contest or send a FREE gift to the moms you know using Facebook.

Want to send your Mom to Hawaii? Here’s how:

• Tell 1800Flowers.com about your mother (or ANY mom you know and love). Share the imaginative, passionate and thoughtful lessons that she taught you.
• Daily prizes will awarded through May 2nd.
• Top 10 Lessons to be chosen by a panel of judges. Your votes will determine the Grand Prize winner.
• Grand Prize winning Mom receives a Hawaii vacation getaway and a year of flowers, plus a year of flowers for the story teller.
• Each lesson submitted will also have a chance to be featured in a future book by the 1800Flowers.com founder, Jim McCann.

See contest details at 1800Flowers.com. Cardholders also save up to 20% on Mother’s Day gifts this year!

You may have spent the last couple of summers (or semesters) working very hard to build a resume of experience. Unfortunately, as a lot of companies continue to cut back on costs job seeking is particularly challenging for recent graduates. This trend will likely continue over the next several years.

If you have completed an internship with a company (and you’ve made a good impression), the company’s hiring managers may look upon your candidacy for a permanent position more favorably than others, taking the stress out of navigating through the current job market. Being proactive (planning to take the leap!) is one of the most important steps toward converting an internship into a full-time gig. Here are some additional tips from CareerRookie.com:

• Treat your internship like an extended job interview… because it is. Arrive on time, beat (or at the very least meet) deadlines and consistently deliver strong work.
• Seek out challenges. Employers want employees who show initiative and a desire to learn and develop. The majority of employers (59%) are more likely to permanently hire a college intern who asks for more responsibilities.

If you’ve already completed your internship, send a thank-you note to each individual you worked with at the company. Acknowledge what you learned from them and how they directly contributed to your success. Then seek out opportunities to reconnect, especially with the human resource and hiring managers. This can be as simple as sending a request to meet for lunch, or attending industry related events or networking groups where the hiring managers will have a presence.

Even if you’re not a graduating senior, use your internship as a springboard to launch your career and push for a part-time position until graduation. You never know! Hiring managers at the company (and their peers) have already had the opportunity to observe your strengths as an intern. At Student Advantage, three (3) of the last five (5) new hires were formerly interns or temps in our office.

Checkout more job seeking tips like these, plus some graduation deals for EVERYONE at Student Advantage today.

“Hanesbrands has quietly become a leader in energy management and aspires to be an international apparel industry leader in overall environmental responsibility and stewardship. This effort is more than a commitment; it is a major business strategy for our success…” – CEO Statement on Environmental Responsibility

From energy-efficient factories to environmentally responsible packaging, Hanesbrands tries to find little ways to make a difference every day:

• EPA ENERGY STAR® 2010 Partner of the Year!
• Since 2007, reduced the energy used to make products by 11%.
• Nearly 30% of energy comes from clean, renewable resources.
• Reduced water use per product by nearly 18% since 2007.

Enough about what they do, right? What about what you wear? Here’s some ways that Hanebrands seeks to reduce the environmental impact of raw materials including their new “Future Generations” commercial:

• EcoSmart® polyester fiber is made from recycled bottles.
• EcoSmart® cotton yarn is made directly from textile waste.
• Aggressive reduction in plastic and paper for product packaging.

DID YOU KNOW… that you can save money and energy by washing your clothes in cold water? Get more green tips from Hanes!

What to make a difference by shopping Hanebrands? Check out how Cardholders can get 10% OFF at Champion.com and Hanes.com today!

Chris McCann Goes Incognito to Work Alongside Numerous Employees from 1-800-FLOWERS Retail Shops and Fannie May

As 1-800-FLOWERS.COM® gears up for another busy Mother’s Day season, Chris McCann, president of the world’s largest florist and online gift shop, appeared in the season finale of “Undercover Boss,” the hit reality TV series on CBS. On April 11, viewers got an inside look as McCann left his corporate office to go undercover and work side-by-side with his employees to gain a unique perspective on how things work at the frontline, to witness firsthand the effects his decisions have throughout the company and acknowledge unsung heroes who go above and beyond for the gift retailer.

“I am so grateful for CBS providing me with this exceptional opportunity,” said Chris McCann, President of 1-800-FLOWERS.COM.  “The opportunity to experience our company at all levels makes me a stronger leader and enables 1-800-FLOWERS.COM to continue to be the best in the business.  Also, the show reaffirmed my appreciation for all our employees and their hard work – they are invaluable to us in our mission to help deliver smiles everyday.“

“Undercover Boss” follows high-level chief executives as they enter anonymously into the frontline positions of their companies. Each week documents a different executive’s undercover mission, where they have the opportunity to examine the forefront of their company. While working alongside their employees, the executives get an up-close and personal look at both the good and the bad, while discovering the unsung heroes who make their company run.

Episode aired Sunday, April 11 at 9/8c on CBS!

Also, check out Michael Rubin, founder and CEO of GSI Commerce (partnered with DicksSportingGoods.com, SportsAuthority.com and many other sporting goods brands), in his latest appearance on the show…

To see more clips, visit the the Undercover Boss Youtube Channel.

Recent disasters in Haiti, Chile and elsewhere around the world have shown that the entire world can rally together to help others during a time of desperation (regardless of the economy, unemployment or any other personal setbacks we’ve all experienced in the last few years). Individuals and groups have donated money, sent supplies and volunteered around the globe even while facing their own financial crisis.

Many companies have also supported causes by donating resources and portions of profits to disaster relief funds.

Rugby Ralph Lauren, along with printing “To Haiti with Love” t-shirts that benefited the Clinton-Bush Haiti fund, is currently hosting the Give in Style event from now until April 12th , offering a 25% savings on all purchases (some items excluded). Ten percent (10%) of their total sales will benefit the United Way Disaster Relief Fund to support recovery efforts in Haiti and Chile.

So, if you feel like you haven’t done your part, here is your opportunity to help out… save money and look good doing it! Check out the sale at Rugby.com or at any US Ralph Lauren and Rugby store locations.

For a limited time only, EVERYone can take an additional 20% OFF already reduced women’s and men’s styles online, plus free shipping for all orders with a total of $100 or more. This discount even applies to some Online Exclusive styles! For more details visit armaniexchange.com.

This promotional offer cannot be combined with the Student Advantage^® discount. If you are a Cardholder, do not enter your Student Advantage Card number unless you want to access 10% OFF all items at armaniexchange.com.

Starting March 26, 2010, you can also take 20% OFF select styles in-store.