Published 05-29-07
Submitted by Best Buy Company, Inc.
MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 29, 2007--The San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD) is the 2007 recipient of the $250,000 Best Buy Teach Award for demonstrating exceptional creative use of interactive technology to help make learning fun for its K-12 students.
The district was selected for the top honor based on the strength of its Unsung Heroes program, a district-wide initiative to deliver more authentic learning experiences for students. Through the use of consumer electronics, students celebrate community heroes by
interviewing them and then digitally documenting their stories of heroism and courage. The $250,000 Teach Award will fund the initial implementation of Unsung Heroes at five SDUSD schools.
"We are encouraged by this Best Buy investment in our students," said Carl Cohn, SDUSD superintendent. "Using the latest multimedia digital tools for interactive learning will give them a huge advantage. Mastering these excellent 21st-century skills will prepare our students to add value to their community."
Earlier this year, 1,300 classrooms across the U.S. received a $2,500 Best Buy Teach Award for creative use of technology to make learning more engaging for its students. Of those 1,300 classrooms, 50 were chosen to receive an additional $15,000 Teach Award to fund exceptional learning programs. Each district of those 50 schools was then invited to apply for the top Teach Award, valued at $250,000.
SDUSD garnered the opportunity to apply for the $250,000 award after one of its schools, La Jolla High School, received a $15,000 Teach Award in February 2007 for its initiative to merge lessons taught in automotive shop, physics, arts and photography classes to enhance students' understanding of electrical and solar power conversion. Through its two Teach Awards, totaling $17,500, La Jolla High School has incorporated a full spectrum of digital technologies and has successfully combined curriculums to foster comprehensive learning.
"The Teach Award allows teachers across the nation the opportunity to implement technology in their classrooms that will ultimately contribute to the success of their students academically, and to make learning more fun and interactive," said Paula Prahl, vice president, public affairs, Best Buy. "We are extremely proud to offer this year's award to the San Diego Unified School District, as they continuously make strides as a district to create a more interactive learning environment."
Since 2003, the Teach program has awarded nearly $14 million in awards to almost 5,000 K-12 schools across the U.S., and serves as the cornerstone of the community and philanthropic work of Best Buy. Winning schools may use their Teach Awards to purchase additional consumer technology at Best Buy to extend, expand, or enhance current and future classroom curricula.
In 2007 alone, Teach Awards totaled $4.25 million, with nearly 8,000 applications received from classrooms nationwide. A list of all 2007 Teach Award-winning schools can be found at www.BestBuy.com/teach.
Applications for the 2008 Teach Awards will be available July 1 online at www.BestBuy.com/teach. All accredited, public and private nonprofit elementary, middle and secondary schools located within 50 miles of a U.S. Best Buy store are eligible; completed applications must be received by September 30, 2007.
About the Best Buy Community Commitment
As a community partner, Best Buy works to encourage ideas and to confront challenges. Through its many philanthropic activities, Best Buy extends its support in times of celebration and in times of need. In fiscal 2006, Best Buy and the Best Buy Children's Foundation donated $30 million to its communities. The company encourages local volunteerism by providing charitable gifts to organizations where employees volunteer, awards annual scholarships to graduating high-school seniors, and supports schools using technology to enhance learning through the Best Buy Teach Award program. Best Buy works with the Red Cross to provide support in times of disaster. The company also connects with the United Way to meet local community needs, and supports national organizations innovatively using technology in youth education. In addition, Best Buy is committed to environmental responsibility. Last year, the company collected and recycled nearly 1 million pounds of used and obsolete electronic items though special mass collection events and everyday collection of cellular phones, ink jet cartridges and rechargeable batteries. For more information about Best Buy's community relations efforts, visit www.BestBuy.com/CommunityRelations.
About Best Buy Co., Inc.
Best Buy Co., Inc. (NYSE:BBY) operates a global portfolio of brands with a commitment to growth and innovation. Our employees strive to provide customers around the world with superior experiences by responding to their unique needs and aspirations. We sell consumer electronics, home-office products, entertainment software, appliances and related services through more than 1,150 retail stores across the United States, throughout Canada and in China. Our multi-channel operations include: Best Buy (BestBuy.com, BestBuy.ca and BestBuy.com.cn), Future Shop (FutureShop.ca), Geek Squad (GeekSquad.com and GeekSquad.ca), Pacific Sales Kitchen and Bath Centers (PacificSales.com), Magnolia Audio Video (Magnoliaav.com) and Jiangsu Five Star Appliance Co. (Five-Star.cn). Best Buy supports the communities in which its employees work and live through volunteerism and grants that benefit children and education.
Copyright Business Wire 2007
Giving back to our communities is central to the way we do business at Best Buy. Whether it’s funding innovative programs that make learning fun for kids, providing te@ch awards to K-12 schools each year, supporting the United Way and American Red Cross, or mobilizing TagTeam volunteers throughout the country, we are privileged to help strengthen our communities.
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