Hoar Construction/GMAC Bowl Reading and Writing Contest Winner Announced

MOBILE, Ala. – Jonathan Blackmon of Briarwood Christian School in Birmingham, Alabama emerged as the top prizewinner with a $10,000 U.S. savings bond in the Hoar Construction/GMAC Bowl Reading and Writing Contest. One of 10 finalists picked out of nearly 6,000 entries from the state of Alabama and Gulf Coast regions of Florida and Mississippi, Blackmon won top honors after writing the top book report in the second stage of the contest.

The initial stage of the contest, which concluded on Nov. 18, saw nearly 6,000 students submit book reports to a panel of judges who picked 10 finalists. The 10 finalists, who were given another book to read, arrived at the Mitchell Center on Tuesday evening to write another report. Under the gun, the students had only one hour to write their second report of the contest. That final effort would ultimately determine the awarding of the U.S. savings bonds.

This was the 5th consecutive year that the GMAC Bowl hosted the “Reading and Writing Contest” to promote reading and writing at the 5th grade level. The awarding of U.S. savings bonds, from $10,000 to $500, was announced Wednesday morning, Dec. 14 at the Mobile Civic Center Theater. The Blue Angels of Pensacola, FL, AL State Superintendent Dr. Joe Morton, 2005’s America’s Junior Miss Kelly Schutz, Lt. Col. Dale Blackburn with USA’s AFROTC, and Mike Lanier of Hoar Construction addressed the crowd and encouraged 2,000 local 4th graders in attendance to participate in the contest next year.

The following finalists, including this year’s top winner, were each given a Nintendo Gamecube Bundle as well as an opportunity to attend all of the upcoming GMAC Bowl events. Additionally, on Wednesday, Dec. 21 during the GMAC Bowl, Jonathan Blackmon along with his family will be treated to a special presentation on the field where GMAC Bowl President Jerry Silverstein and Hoar Construction VP of Marketing Mike Lanier will announce Jonathan’s success in the Hoar Construction/GMAC Bowl Reading and Writing Contest to the anticipated crowd of more than 41,000.

Hoar Construction – GMAC Bowl Reading and Writing Contest 2005 Savings Bond Winners
Jonathan Blackmon – $10,000
Briarwood Christian
Birmingham, AL

Peyton Presto – $3,000
Good Hope Elementary
Cullman, AL

Samuel Brown – $1,500
Alba Elementary
Mobile, AL

Daniel Brickhouse – $1000
Hutchens Elementary
Mobile, AL

Kierstin Lewis – $1,000
Tanner Williams Elementary
Wilmer, AL

Stefan Arroyo – $1,000
Green Valley Elem.
Hoover, AL

Sarah Harden – $500
Nan Grey Davis Elem.
Theodore, AL

Lainie Bailey – $500
Challenger Elementary
Huntsville, AL

Danyell Stork – $500
Castlen Elementary
Grand Bay, AL

Jared West – $500
Morningside Elementary T
Theodore, AL