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Eco-Friendly School in Oregon Named $20,000 Grand Prize Winner in the Walmart "Earth Day Every Day School Challenge"

Corvallis High School Awarded Grant to Further Green Initiatives

Eco-Friendly School in Oregon Named $20,000 Grand Prize Winner in the Walmart "Earth Day Every Day School Challenge"

Corvallis High School Awarded Grant to Further Green Initiatives

Published 06-29-09

Submitted by Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. - June 29, 2009 - Corvallis High School in Corvallis, Ore. has been named "America's Most Eco-Friendly School" in the Walmart "Earth Day Every Day School Challenge." According to Corvallis High School officials, the school consumes 30 percent less energy than every other school built to the Oregon code, and it hopes to consume even less by one day installing solar panels on the building’s roof. Its Green Club spearheads a campaign to encourage students to use carbon-neutral transportation by offering incentives to bike or walk to school. These environmental activities are just a few of the reasons that the school was chosen as the grand prize winner in an online vote by Americans, and will be awarded a $20,000 grant from Walmart to further its environmental efforts.

"Corvallis High School is an excellent example of the impact young Americans can make in creating a greener, healthier planet," said Matt Kistler, senior vice president of sustainability, Walmart. "At Walmart, we believe that Earth Day should be every day, and we are honored to assist Corvallis High School in furthering its environmental goals by awarding the school a $20,000 grant as the winner of the Walmart "Earth Day Every Day School Challenge."

Corvallis High School was one of the 20 finalist schools selected by three independent judges (teachers and environmental experts) from among 439 qualified essays, which described the efforts made by each school to help make the world a greener place. All finalists who elected to compete for the $20,000 grand prize submitted a short video, showcasing the environmental activities and projects described in their essays. The competing schools' videos and essays were posted at http://www.earthdayeverydaychallenge.com, and from June 9 through June 19, Americans were asked to vote for the school they believed should be awarded the $20,000 grand prize.

During the 10-day voting period, more than 22,000 votes were cast. The five schools with the most votes (in descending order) were: Corvallis High School (Corvallis, Ore.), East Burke High School (Connelly Springs, N.C.), Maple Avenue Elementary School (Claremont, N.H.), Beverly Elementary School (Beverly Hills, Mich.) and Old Trail School (Bath, Ohio).

"I am absolutely thrilled that Corvallis High School has won the grand prize," said Colleen Works, the teacher who entered the challenge on behalf of the school. "I am so grateful to the Walmart Earth Day Every Day School Challenge for offering CHS the opportunity to continue and expand its eco-friendly efforts and practices. The grant is a huge affirmation to the CHS students and staff, and the Corvallis community, that their efforts to 'go green' are rewarded, both with the contest grant and with the future improved health of our planet."

Walmart recognized the efforts of all 20 finalists by awarding each school a $500 Walmart gift card, which can be used to purchase items that will help enhance the school's earth-friendly activities.

For more information about the Walmart "Earth Day Every Day School Challenge - and to watch Corvallis High School's winning video, along with the other finalists' videos - please visit http://www.earthdayeverydaychallenge.com. For more information on how Walmart can help customers save money and live green, visit http://www.walmart.com/green.

About Walmart
Every week, millions of customers visit Walmart stores, Neighborhood Markets, and Sam's Club locations across America or log on to its online store at http://www.walmart.com. The company and its Foundation are committed to a philosophy of giving back locally. Walmart (NYSE: WMT) is proud to support the causes that are important to customers and associates right in their own neighborhoods, and last year gave more than $378 million to local communities in the United States. More information about Walmart can be found by visiting http://www.walmartstores.com.

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Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) helps people around the world save money and live better – anytime and anywhere – in retail stores, online, and through their mobile devices. Each week, more than 200 million customers and members visit our 10,700 stores under 69 banners in 27 countries and e-commerce websites in 10 countries. With fiscal year 2013 sales of approximately $466 billion, Walmart employs more than 2.2 million associates worldwide. Walmart continues to be a leader in sustainability, corporate philanthropy and employment opportunity. Additional information about Walmart can be found by visiting corporate.walmart.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/walmart and on Twitter at twitter.com/walmartgreen. Online merchandise sales are available at www.walmart.com and www.samsclub.com.

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