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The votes are in and eight of the nation's top Historically Black College and University (HBCU) marching bands have been selected to perform at the 11th Annual Honda Battle of the Bands Invitational Showcase, presented by Verizon Wireless and official banking sponsor, SunTrust Bank.  The Showcase is a one-of-a-kind celebratory experience widely known in the HBCU community as "The Honda."  Tens of thousands of HBCU alumni, family and marching band fans will make the journey to Atlanta's Georgia Dome on January 26, 2013, to witness this spectacular display of music, choreography and showmanship in one of the largest marching band showcases in the nation.

Eight bands have earned a $20,000 grant each from Honda for their school's music education programs and an all-expenses-paid trip to Atlanta to perform at the 2013 Honda Battle of the Bands Invitational Showcase. These eight bands include a number of America's most iconic marching bands, as well as one first-time participant, Alcorn State University. The eight bands performing at "The Honda" are:

• Albany State University, Marching Rams (Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference)
• Alcorn State University, The Sounds of Dyn-O-Mite (Southwestern Athletic Conference)
• Bethune-Cookman University, Marching Wildcats (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference)
• Edward Waters College, Triple Threat Marching Band (Independent)
• Jackson State University, Sonic Boom of the South (Southwestern Athletic Conference)
• North Carolina A&T University, Blue and Gold Marching Machine (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference)
• Tennessee State University, Aristocrat of Bands (Independent)
• Winston-Salem State University, The Red Sea of Sound (Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association)

Three lucky fans will win a personally-customized trip to the 2013 Invitational Showcase and a chance to take home an all-new 2013 Honda Accord. Fans who want to win the trip for themselves and a guest can enter the sweepstakes by visiting the www.HondaBattleoftheBands.com website, where they can find complete information and rules*.

"The Honda Battle of the Bands is a truly unique event that celebrates and affirms the great tradition of the HBCU marching band experience and the incredibly positive impact that these programs have on the lives of young people, their schools and surrounding communities," said Marc Burt, assistant vice president, Office of Inclusion and Diversity, American Honda Motor Co., Inc. "As we continue into our eleventh year, Honda is happy to support these music education programs and looks forward to another amazing Invitational Showcase."

The final eight bands are chosen through a voting process incorporating online fan votes, band directors, the presidents of HBCU schools and representatives from American Honda. For the eight participating bands, the journey to the Invitational Showcase involves months of intense practice and training, all in preparation for their Georgia Dome performance, where each band will have 12 action-packed minutes to showcase the musical excellence, distinctive style and superior showmanship that earned them a place in the 2013 Invitational Showcase.

The Honda Battle of the Bands actively engages with fans through social media, providing access to the latest updates, photos and videos. Fans can connect with the Honda Battle of the Bands at:

Twitter – @The_Honda, #HBOB2013 (http://twitter.com/The_Honda)
Facebook – (www.facebook.com/HondaBattleOfTheBands)
YouTube – (www.youtube.com/hondabotb)
Instagram – #HBOB2013

For more information on the 2013 Honda Battle of the Bands Invitational Showcase, including group and individual tickets, updates, photos and video footage, and all details about the program, please visit www.HondaBattleoftheBands.com.

About Honda
American Honda Motor Co., Inc., was founded in 1959 as the U.S. sales and marketing subsidiary of Honda Motor Co., Ltd. Honda produces automobiles, all-terrain vehicles, lawn mowers and engines at its nine major U.S. manufacturing operations, using domestic and globally sourced parts. Honda's long-standing commitment to the support and success of the nation's Historically Black Colleges and Universities began more than 20 years ago with the establishment of the Honda Campus All-Star Challenge, a program designed to showcase the academic gifts and prowess of HBCU students. American Honda established Honda Battle of the Bands 11 years ago as an effort to support HBCU music programs.

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation's largest 4G LTE network and largest, most reliable 3G network. The company serves 94.2 million retail customers, including 88.8 million retail postpaid customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 78,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE, NASDAQ: VZ) and Vodafone (LSE, NASDAQ: VOD). For more information, visit www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.

About SunTrust Banks, Inc.
SunTrust Banks, Inc., headquartered in Atlanta, is one of the nation's largest banking organizations, serving a broad range of consumer, commercial, corporate and institutional clients.  As of June 30, 2012,
SunTrust had total assets of $178.3 billion and total deposits of $128.4 billion. Through its flagship subsidiary, SunTrust Bank, the Company operates an extensive branch and ATM network throughout the high-growth Southeast and Mid-Atlantic states and a full array of technology-based, 24-hour delivery channels. The Company also serves clients in selected markets nationally. Its primary businesses include deposit, credit, trust and investment services. Through various subsidiaries the Company provides mortgage banking, insurance, brokerage, investment management, equipment leasing and investment banking services. SunTrust's Internet address is suntrust.com.

*NO PURCHASE OR PAYMENT OF ANY KIND IS NECESSARY TO PARTICIPATE OR WIN. PURCHASE WILL NOT ENHANCE CHANCES OF WINNING. Open to legal residents of The 50 U.S./D.C., 18 or older, with a valid U.S. driver's license at the time of participation. Ends 12/14/12. Void where prohibited. Subject to full official rules http://www.hondabattleofthebands.com/rules.

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