OAK BROOK, Ill. — McDonald's has unveiled a new, in-school achievement program, McDonald's All American Achievers, an opportunity for teachers nationwide to honor top-performing students. The interactive program motivates seventh and eighth graders to excel academically, and encourages character development and community service.
Teachers can find entry materials at www.365black.com. Students are eligible to become an All American Achiever by submitting an expository essay, written by the student and submitted by his or her teacher, answering questions about the student's academic accomplishments, extracurricular activities and community citizenship. Teachers score and submit the classroom's essays for consideration. A panel of judges, including educators and "CSI: NY" star Hill Harper, who is a longtime education activist, will select the Grand Prize winners from the highest scoring essays submitted.
Essays will be judged by scores submitted by teachers, who will assign students points for demonstrating McDonald's All American Achiever characteristics, such as abiding by school rules and having perfect attendance as of the date of entry. The judges will select the 100 highest scoring essays from which they will identify one grand prize seventh-grade student essay and one grand prize eighth-grade student essay.
Entries are due Dec. 8. Winners will be announced on or about Jan. 30, 2009, and grand prize winners will receive a $500 American Express gift card and a new laptop computer. The remaining 98 finalists will receive a $250 gift card. Teachers who submit the winning essay will receive $500 to purchase supplies for their classroom and the winners' corresponding schools each receive a $2,000 check.
