18 Nov 2009
Sponsored by Comerica Bank, the contest's prize is $5,000 for a school's makeover project
DALLAS–A student from Dallas Independent School District's Lincoln High School, 2826 Hatcher St., will receive a surprise visit on Thursday, Nov. 19, at 2 p.m., for being the winner of the 2009 Comerica Bank Thanksgiving Essay Contest.
Chuck Gummer, Comerica's Texas Market President, will award $5,000 to the author of the winning essay, to the school's principal and to the student's teacher to fund the school's makeover project identified in the student's essay.
The focus of the essay was what the students would do to improve their school if given $5,000 to spend. As part of the essay contest, the students submitted a budget along with the essay to show their money management and budget allocation skills. Fifty-eight students from across Dallas ISD entered the contest.
"Dallas ISD has improved more than any other urban district in Texas and more than all but one urban district in the country in narrowing the achievement gap."
Brown Center on Education Policy
Brookings Institution
February 2009