Hoar Construction and GMAC Bowl Award Fifth Graders with $20,000 for Reading and Writing

MOBILE, AL –Hoar Construction, along with the GMAC Bowl, presented 10 fifth graders from the southeast with savings bonds totaling $20,000 as a reward for their outstanding reading and writing at a ceremony on Monday, December 11, 2006.

The sixth annual Hoar Construction/GMAC Bowl Reading and Writing Contest, which began on September 11, 2006, was open to all fifth graders in the state of Alabama and the Gulf Coast regions of Florida and Mississippi. Thanks to the support of educators throughout the region, over 7,000 entries were received from fifth graders.

Dr. Joseph Morton, Alabama’s state superintendent of schools, called the Hoar Construction/ GMAC Bowl Reading and Writing Contest an, “… a very exciting opportunity for fifth grade students,” and encouraged all eligible students across the state to participate.

Students that entered the contest were requested to read a book and submit a written book report in 250 words or less following the entry form guidelines. A panel of judges selected 10 finalists, who came to Mobile, to participate in the final stage of the program. That stage consisted of writing an additional short book report of a pre-selected book for the judges.

On Monday, December 11, 2006, beginning at 9:30 a.m., the 10 winners joined over 2000 fourth grade students from Mobile public and private schools at the Civic Center Theater in a special awards ceremony. The Blue Angels Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, the University of South Alabama Cheerleading Squad, Miss Mobile County and the Baker High School Chorus will also be on hand for the ceremony. By inviting area fourth graders to the annual awards ceremony, program coordinators hoped to encourage these students to participate in the contest the following year.

Savings bonds were awarded to the 10 finalists in amounts ranging from $10,000 for first place to $500 for 10th place. In addition, the 10 winners were also invited to attend the events taking place during GMAC Bowl Week, including the FCA Breakfast, the GMAC Financial Services Mayor’s Banquet, the Greer’s Mardi Gras Parade and the GMAC Bowl game.

Over the past five years, the Hoar Construction/GMAC Bowl Reading and Writing Contest has donated $100,000 in savings bonds to aspiring students in the fifth grade.

The GMAC Bowl will be played on January 7, 2007, at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Alabama. The game will be televised nationally on ESPN. Kick-off is set for 7:00 pm CST.

For more information about the Hoar Construction/GMAC Bowl Reading and Writing Contest, visit the GMAC Bowl website at www.gmacbowl.com or call the GMAC Bowl office at 251-635-0011.

Hoar Construction/GMAC Bowl Reading and Writing Contest 2006 Winners

Hannah Brock – $10,000
Troy Elementary School
Troy, AL

Hope Ferguson – $3,000
Castlin Elementary School
Grand Bay, AL

Nicholas Becklund -$1,500
West Navarre Intermediate
Navarre, FL

Hannah Brock – $1000
Collier Elementary
Mobile, AL

Hugo Dante – $1,000
McBride Elementary
Muscle Shoals, AL

Hidy Liu – $1,000
Brookwood Forrest Elem.
Birmingham, AL

Chandler King – $500
Hutchins Elem.
Mobile, AL

Colton Turner – $500
C.E. Hannah Elementary
Oxford, AL

Madeline Mays – $500
Breitling Elementary
Grand Bay, AL

Chandra McWilliams – $500
Morningside Elementary
Mobile, AL