Contact: Lisa Deffendall • First Posted: Friday, February 23, 2007

Lexington – On February 24, 2007, School and Neighborhood Academic Challenge Primary and Intermediate Teams will compete in the Annual District Academic Challenge Mayor’s Cup Competition at Tates Creek High School. Over 500 students will be in the competition for individual trophies, silver and bronze ribbons for 2^nd and 3^rd places; and the Mayor’s Cup. The Mayor’s Cup will be presented to the winning Primary and Intermediate Teams by Linda Gorton and George Meyers, Urban County Council Members.

The beginning rounds of the competition will start at 9:00 a.m. The finals will be held at 11:45 a.m. and will be followed by the awards presentation. Arnold Gaither, One Community, One Voice; and Lisa Stone, Fayette County Public Schools, Co-chairs of the Academic Challenge Program Competitions, will present the individual trophies and second and third place medals to the winning Primary and Intermediate Team Members.

All students who participate in the District Competition will be recognized with an excellence award and an Academic Challenge T-Shirt.

Since 2004, the One Community One Voice (OC)V) initiatives have been concentrated on increasing parent involvement in the education of children, recognizing that there is an undisputed link between student school success and parent involvement. The centerpiece of the OCOV initiatives has been the Academic Challenge Program that is open to all students in first through fifth grades who attend the Fayette County Public Schools. (Neighborhood Teams are established when students cannot stay after school for School Academic Challenge Team practice sessions, but can attend sessions at neighborhood sites.)

 This major initiative has produced the greatest degree of student engagement and increased parent involvement and is designed to motivate student learning, make learning exciting and engage parents in the education programs of their children.

For more information, please contact Arnold Gaither at 258-3140 or Lisa Stone at 381-4100.

The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation has awarded One Community, One Voice grant funding to continue a focus on increased parent involvement in the educational process of children. Knight Foundation promotes journalism excellence worldwide and invests in the vitality of Lexington and 25 other U.S. communities.