The community”s support of its students could add up to $100,000 for Lower Lake High School (LLHS). LLHS is currently holding a steady fifth-place standing in U.S. Cellular”s “Calling All Communities” campaign, which will award $1 million between 10 schools.
“In light of tightening education budgets in California and nationally, local cell phone company U.S. Cellular launched an ?education bailout” initiative to give $100,000 to 10 schools across the country,” Bruce Kehe of Kehe Communications said. “Lower Lake High School is currently No. 5 and in line to be one of the winners, but it will continue needing the community rallying behind it through Jan. 15.”
The campaign challenges people in communities across the nation to show support of their students by casting a vote for the school of their choice. The 20 schools leading the challenge reportedly range from communities with populations as large as Chicago with two million residents to towns as small as Cairo, MO with slightly more than 300 residents.
LLHS currently sits comfortably in fifth place; however, to ensure that the school remains in the top 10, votes must be cast by Jan. 15, 2009.
To cast a vote for LLHS or other schools of your choice, pick up a postage-paid postcard ballot at the U.S. Cellular store in the Burns Valley Shopping Mall in Clearlake.
All schools in the U.S., public and private, serving kindergarten through high school are eligible for the awards, which will be announced in Feb. of this year. Purchase is not necessary to vote.
“What makes this so exciting is that any school can rise to the top if their community rallies behind them,” Heather Owens, director of sales in California, said. “Just a few extra votes could make the difference in bringing much-needed $100,000 home to your school. With less than 30 days left, it is truly anybody”s game.”
The program launched on Dec. 3. Nearly 2,500 different schools across the nation have reportedly received votes in the campaign. Smaller communities are showing their strength with nine of the 20 schools hailing from towns with less than 5,000 residents. Leading the campaign are Illini West High School in Carthage, IL and St. Joseph High School in Kenosha, WI. The schools are reportedly tied for first even though the sizes of their communities are vastly different. Carthage has about 2,500 residents and Kenosha has more than 16,000.
Lower Lake High School is the only California school currently within reach of one of the $100,000 awards. The top 20 schools leading the campaign are posted weekly at participating U.S. Cellular stores and on the Web at www.uscellular.com/callingallcommunities. U.S. Cellular is the nation”s sixth-largest wireless carrier, serving 6.2 million customers across the country. To learn more about the company visit one of its retail stores or www.uscellular.com.
Contact Denise Rockenstein at drockenstein@clearlakeobserver.com or call her directly at 994-6444, ext. 11.
Don”t forget to write!
The Clear Lake Observer*American welcomes letters responding to articles and opinions that have appeared in this newspaper, as well as on topics of general interest. Letters can be sent to ObserverAmerican@gmail.com or mailed to PO Box 6200, Clearlake, CA 95422. Please include complete name, address and telephone number. Anonymous submissions will be discarded.
