First-place winner Anthony Grimaldo, a fifth-grader, will receive a $5,000 college scholarship from the program’s sponsor, Brainstorm USA, an educational software company. The competition is designed to help children recognize the value of setting goals, sharing hopes, and communicating their vision. The program receives hundreds of entries each year from students across the nation who communicate through any medium, from prose to photography to painting, to demonstrate how they plan to achieve a personal goal. The program awards two first-place scholarships per quarter for a total of eight awards each year.

For his first-place entry, Anthony created a detailed model of an excavation site to illustrate his dream to become an archaeologist.
A letter of support from his parents accompanied his entry.

Also receiving awards for their second- and third-place entries, respectively, are fifth-graders Nyomi Kivienas and Alexis Garcia. Nyomi will receive a new personal computer for her entry, which outlined her aspiration to become a pediatrician, while Alexis will earn educational software for her project highlighting her dreams of becoming a lawyer. The school will receive two new computers.

“We couldn’t be more proud of the team efforts our students, teachers and parents put forth in this wonderful competition that encourages students to really think about their futures,” said Deb Poturalski, principal. “Every student who participated demonstrated courage and vision in this exercise, making them all winners in my book.”

WHEN: Wednesday, October 15, 2003
8:45 a.m.

WHERE: Queen of the Universe School
7130 S. Hamlin Ave., Chicago

Queen of the Universe/Add One

WHO: Deborah Poturalski, principal, Queen of the Universe School
Rev. George Velloorattil, pastor, Queen of the Universe
Gerson Vasquez, representative, Brainstorm USA
Award winners and other students from Queen of the Universe

VISUALS: Students will view Anthony Grimaldo’s winning model of an excavation site following the awards ceremony. The detailed model depicts an archeologist at work.

Archdiocese of Chicago Catholic Schools
The Catholic schools of the Archdiocese of Chicago play a critical role in the life of the community by providing academic excellence and faith formation for approximately 117,000 students of many races, faiths and backgrounds in the 283 elementary and secondary schools in Cook and Lake counties. There are more than 6,400 teachers in the Catholic school system who instill values, teach discipline and achieve strong, consistent academic results in the Archdiocese of Chicago's 242 elementary and 41 secondary schools. Visit the Archdiocese of Chicago Web site at www.archchicago.org/schools