S&P 400 MidCap
30.01.2006 20:37:00
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Coldwell Banker Real Estate Corporation Names Grand-Prize Winners of the 'My Home: The American Dream Contest'
PARSIPPANY, N.J., Jan. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Coldwell Banker Real Estate Corporation, in conjunction with Scholastic Professional Magazines' Custom Media Group, today announced the three grand-prize winners of the "My Home: The American Dream" contest. Christy Vineis, a first-grader from Austin, Texas; Paul Forrester, a third-grader from Morristown, Tenn; and Scott Skophammer, an eighth-grader from Fort Dodge, Iowa, have each won $2,000 and their teachers each will receive a new digital camera for his or her classroom valued at $600. Winners were chosen from three age categories: Kindergarten- Grade 2, Grades 3-5 and Grades 6-8. The "My Home: The American Dream" contest was established in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Coldwell Banker(R) brand in 2006.
The nationwide competition asked students to explain through images or words how they make their house a home. The 1,020 entries received were judged based on creativity, originality, overall quality and effort. In addition to the three grand-prize winners, 11 finalists in each age category each received $100 dollars.
"In their entries, Christy, Paul and Scott each got to the heart of what makes a house a home, and that is the encouragement and support of loved ones that takes place within the four walls of a house," says Charlie Young, senior vice president of marketing, Coldwell Banker Real Estate Corporation. "No matter what medium the children used to express their sentiments, the message was essentially the same.
"It is heartwarming to know that the children recognize that the home is the cornerstone of family life, and it can help provide the security and stability necessary for growth," Young continues. "We look forward to another hundred years of helping families get their feet on the ground. A hearty congratulations to each of our three winners!"
Winner, Kindergarten - Grade 2 Christy Vineis, First Grade, Spicewood Elementary School, Austin, Texas
A 7-year-old first-grader from Nancy Stout's class at Spicewood Elementary School in Austin, Texas, Christy won for the handmade book she made and simply called, "My Home." Using her own illustrations and captions, she describes the time spent together with her family at holidays, during special meals, at family movie night and in the backyard pool, and the safety she feels in the comfort of her own room. She ends her book with a drawing of the earth, with her house perched atop it, saying that her home is her "favorite place in the whole wide world."
"Christy's entry artfully described the simple pleasures of family life in the home," says Young. "Her drawings and straightforward descriptions of her favorite family moments truly captured the spirit of the security she feels at home with her family."
Winner, Grades 3 - 5 Paul Forrester, Third Grade, Alpha Intermediate School, Morristown, Tenn.
An 8-year-old third-grader from JoAnn Wolfe's class at Alpha Intermediate School in Morristown, Tenn., Paul won for his DVD titled "My Home," which takes the viewer through the construction of his family's new home. Interspersed between images of the foundation being poured and the walls being erected, Paul's film describes the love he shares with his family, especially his little sister Katie, who, being only three, must ride her tricycle in the driveway since she does not have a driver's license. The film ends with Paul intoning, "It takes a lot of wood and materials to build a house. But that's not all it takes to make a house a home. It takes love, too."
"What we loved about Paul's entry was his imagination and inspiration," Young notes. "His short film poignantly paralleled the safety and security of a family with the safety and security of a home. And, his use of the Hallelujah chorus from Handel's Messiah, together with artfully timed comments from Katie, were especially creative."
Winner, Grades 6 - 8 Scott Skophammer, Eighth Grade, Phillips Middle School, Fort Dodge, Iowa
A 14-year-old eighth-grader in Matt Manson's class at Phillips Middle School in Fort Dodge, Iowa, Scott won for the storyboard binder he submitted shaped like a house with 16 pages of original illustrations and descriptions of what goes on in his house and neighborhood. Scott began his essay with a quote from his German great-grandfather when he docked in America: "Here is America, a light morning," a sentiment that Scott interprets as, "Now my children have a chance, a future that's worth something." Throughout the book he describes his family's dedication to education and the love, laughter, safety, faith and security he receives from his parents. Below a drawing of a family working together to build something he notes, "If your home is devoid of spirit, you have no home at all." Finally, he describes his home as a time capsule, to which he can always return to hear his family's voices in the walls.
"Scott's entry stood out for his moving opening describing his great-grandfather embarking on his American dream when he reached our shores. We really responded to the direct connection he made between family spirit and support as the foundation for achieving one's goals and dreams. Those sentiments, together with 16 pages of imaginative drawings, really made his entry stand out," Young adds.
"The contest really challenged children on both an educational and emotional level," says Michele Robinson, group publisher, Scholastic Professional Magazines, a division of Scholastic, the global children's publishing, education and media company. "We saw PowerPoint presentations, a stained glass house, a blueprint outlining the 'opportunities' presented in each room of the house, and many other very resourceful and poignant entries. This was an excellent lesson for the students in how to use both passion and creativity to make a persuasive presentation. A hearty congratulations to our grand prize winners and all the students who took the time to share their homes with us."
About Scholastic
Scholastic Corporation is the world's largest publisher and distributor of children's books and a leader in educational technology. Scholastic creates quality educational and entertaining materials and products for use in school and at home, including children's books, magazines, technology-based products, teacher materials, television programming, film, videos and toys. The Company distributes its products and services through a variety of channels, including proprietary school-based book clubs, school-based book fairs, and school-based and direct-to-home continuity programs; retail stores, schools, libraries and television networks; and the Company's Internet site, http://www.scholastic.com/.
About Coldwell Banker(R)
Since 1906, the Coldwell Banker(R) organization has been a premier provider of full-service real estate. In 2005, Franchise Times magazine's prestigious Top 200 issue ranked the Coldwell Banker system number one in real estate and number nine among all franchisors. The Coldwell Banker System has more than 3,900 residential and commercial real estate offices and 126,000 Sales Associates in 29 countries and territories. The Coldwell Banker System is a leader in the industry in residential real estate, and in niche markets such as resort, new homes and luxury properties through its Coldwell Banker Previews International(R) division. It is a pioneer in consumer services with its Coldwell Banker Concierge(R) Service Program and award-winning Web site, http://www.coldwellbanker.com/. Coldwell Banker Mortgage is one of the largest telephone/web based lenders in the country and the Coldwell Banker Commercial(R) network is an industry leader in providing commercial real estate solutions that serve the needs of tenants, landlords, sellers and buyers in the leasing, acquisition, disposition and management of all property types. Coldwell Banker Real Estate Corporation is a subsidiary of Cendant Corporation . Coldwell Banker(R) is a registered trademark licensed to Coldwell Banker Real Estate Corporation. Each office is independently owned and operated except for offices owned and operated by NRT Incorporated.
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