
Louisiana, Dec. 20, 2007 - Samsung's Hope For Education and
Microsoft Corporation, along with teen music sensations Aly & AJ,
awarded Woodlake Elementary School in Mandeville, La., $200,000 in
technology products and software at a special assembly for students,
teachers and local dignitaries. Woodlake Elementary School which was
and still is affected from Hurricane Katrina in 2005 is this year's
grand prize winner in Samsung's Hope for Education fourth annual essay
contest.
Essays were submitted by more than 8,200 schools through students,
parents, teachers and principals who wanted to give their community
schools a chance to benefit from this unique program. In addition to
Woodlake Elementary School, 30 first-prize winners were selected and
will receive $60,000 in technology products and software for their
school. The technology prizes include Samsung's latest, award-winning
products, such as Plasma and LCD high definition televisions; Ultra
Mobile PCs; multi-function products; Smart Phones; digital camcorders;
DVD players, LCD computer monitors, color printers and Microsoft's
latest, award-winning software, such as Microsoft Student, Encarta,
Office, etc. Those who submitted a winning entry on behalf of a winning
school will be awarded a Samsung Ultra Mobile PC with Windows Vista.
(For a complete list of winners, please see below.)
"We are honored and grateful to be selected as the winning
school in the Samsung's Hope for Education essay contest," said
Woodlake Elementary principal Dr. Jean Kreiger. "The technology and
software being donated by Samsung's Hope for Education and Microsoft
will provide the teachers of Woodlake Elementary with the most
up-to-date education tools which will enhance the learning of our
students."
In addition to the product and technology being donated to
Woodlake, a classroom assistant dog will be given to the special
education classroom at Woodlake Elementary. Samsung North America
introduced the successful "Friends for Life" program created in Korea
to provide financial support for the training of special service
animals to assist kids and others who through the use of a dedicated
service dog can lead a better life.
"With programs like Hope for Education, Samsung and Microsoft have the
opportunity to provide the technology and software that not all schools
are able to afford," said D.J. Oh, president and CEO, Samsung
Electronics America. "With the addition of the classroom assistant dog
from "Friends for Life," we are not only helping students better their
education in the classroom, but their quality of life as they go about
their school day."
"Microsoft is proud to be a part of Samsung's Hope for Education
program - recognizing deserving schools and creating opportunities
through technology and software for their students," said Anthony
Salcito, general manager of U.S. Education at Microsoft. "The tools we
are providing these winning schools will enable students to remain
competitive with the rest of the world and further their education
while helping bridge the global technology gap."
Furthering education and reading is an important initiative
for sister actresses and singer-songwriters Aly & AJ. Through
Samsung's partnership with their label Hollywood Records, the teen
sensations helped launch the 2007 Samsung Hope for Education program
this Spring in New York City with a special performance and will be
entertaining more than 600 students at Woodlake during their special
event.
"We are very proud to be a part of Samsung's Hope for Education program
because it provides schools with the tools they need to foster growth
and education in students," said Aly. "Receiving the best education
possible has been very important to us, and we applaud Samsung and
Microsoft for coming together for the betterment of schools and youth,"
added AJ.
The Hope for Education contest was first announced in 2004 at
the opening of the Samsung Experience, a unique and creative technology
emporium in the Time Warner Center in New York City. Since the original
launch, more than 250 U.S. schools have benefited from over $7 million
in Samsung technology and Microsoft software.
About Samsung Electronics America, Inc.
Headquartered in Ridgefield Park, NJ, Samsung Electronics America, Inc.
(SEA), a wholly owned subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., markets a
broad range of award-winning, advanced digital consumer electronics,
information systems and home appliance products. The SEA organization
oversees the North American operations of Samsung including Samsung
Telecommunications America, LP, Samsung Electronics Canada, Inc. and
Samsung Electronics Mexico, Inc. Please visit www.samsung.com for more
information.
About Samsung Electronics
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a
global leader in semiconductor, telecommunication, digital media and
digital convergence technologies with 2005 parent company sales of
US$56.7 billion and net income of US$7.5 billion. Employing
approximately 128,000 people in over 90 offices in 51 countries, the
company consists of five main business units: Digital Appliance
Business, Digital Media Business, LCD Business, Semiconductor Business
and Telecommunication Network Business. Recognized as one of the
fastest growing global brands, Samsung Electronics is a leading
producer of digital TVs, memory chips, mobile phones, and TFT-LCDs. For
more information, please visit www.samsung.com
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975 and Headquartered in Redmond,
Washington, Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in
software; services and solutions that help people, institutions, and
businesses realize their full potential. Specifically, in education
Microsoft is working closely with worldwide education communities, and
has developed technology, tools, programs, and solutions to help
address education challenges while improving teaching and learning
opportunities.
About Aly & AJ
There's no limit to what sisters Aly and
AJ Michalka can do. They are actresses, singer-songwriters who play
their own instruments, astute business women with multiple product
lines, and philanthropists as well. Their debut album "Into The Rush"
sold over a million copies. Their Christmas CD, "Acoustic Hearts of
Christmas" was one of the top-selling CDs of the season. Their
"Insomniatic" album opened to massive critical acclaim. Aly and AJ have
released songs for many different films including hits such as "No One"
that was featured in the motion picture Ice Princess; a rockin' cover
of The Lovin' Spoonful's "Do You Believe in Magic;" and a cover of
Katrina and the Waves' "Walking on Sunshine" that was featured in the
major motion picture Herbie: Fully Loaded. Aly & AJ recently
starred in the new MTV movie, "Super Sweet 16," which debuted this past
summer. Both girls are filming movies for the big screen. Aly is set to
star in "Will" and AJ is featured in the Peter Jackson directed "The
Lovely Bones." In addition, Aly & AJ completed a sold out US
headline tour.
About Hollywood Records
The Disney Music Group encompasses all of the Walt Disney Studio's
recorded music and music publishing operations, including Hollywood
Records, Walt Disney Records, Lyric Street Records and Walt Disney
Music Publishing. Artists include Aly & AJ, Raven Simone, Vanessa
Hudgens, Jonas Brothers and more. For more information, please visit
www.hollywoodrecords.com
| Bonne Ecole Elementary School | Slidell, La. |
| Cisco Junior High School | Cisco, Texas |
| Ramer Elementary School | Ramer, Tenn. |
| Roosevelt High School | San Antonio, Texas |
| Brentsville District High School | Nokesville, Va. |
| Cox's Creek Elementary School | Cox's Creek, Ky. |
| Piedmont Middle School | Monroe, N.C. |
| Emma C. Attales Middle School | Absecon, N.J. |
| Memorial High School | St. Mary's, Ohio |
| Lakeland High School | Shrub Oak, N.Y. |
| Woodbine Elementary School | Woodbine, Ga. |
| Wessendorff Middle School | Rosenberg, Texas |
| Avonworth Elementary School | Pittsburgh, Pa. |
| Indian Creek High School | Wintersville, Ohio |
| Mansfield Middle School | Mansfield, La. |
| Grantsburg High School | Grantsburg, Wis. |
| Discovery Elementary School | Brigham City, Utah |
| Deane Bozeman High School | Panama City, Fla. |
| South Pekin Elementary School | South Pekin, Ill. |
| Cucamongo Middle School | Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. |
| Inkster High School | Inkster, Mich. |
| Hattiesburg High School | Hattiesburg, Miss. |
| Liberty High School | Liberty, Texas |
| Hendersonville Elementary School | Walterboro, S.C. |
| Tazewell Elementary School | Tazewell, Va. |
| Mt. Vernon High School | Mt. Vernon, Texas |
| Wylie E. Groves School | Beverly Hills, Mich. |
| Glenn Stephens School | Madison, Wis. |
| Salem Lutheran School | Orange, Calif. |
| Magnolia School | Orlando, Fla. |
Privacy | Legal © Copyright 2007 Samsung Electronics America Inc. Samsung is a registered trademark of Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. All Rights Reserved. Screen images simulated. © 2007 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. © 2007 Buena Vista Television. Inc.
No purchase necessary to enter or win in the Samsung “Hope for Education 2007” Contest. Open only to legal residents of the 50 US & DC. Participants should nominate a public or state-accredited private school in their community. Home Schools, Colleges, Universities and Vocational/Trade Schools are not eligible for nomination. Void where prohibited. Subject to Official Rules, available here. Sponsor: Samsung Electronics America, Inc.”