WHERE AMBITION EARNS BIG BUCKS!
The 2007-08 Challenge Program

(October 12, 2007) . . .Do you want $250 just for going to school? Well now you can! On Monday, October 1, the students of Indiana County Technology Center were invited to an assembly on “The Challenge Program,” geared to motivate students to succeed.

According to the program’s mission, The Challenge Program, Inc. , was specifically designed to build a bridge between students in high school and the business community by providing incentives to students for goals they achieve while in school. High school sophomores, juniors, and seniors are encouraged to perform well and are rewarded in the following four categories: Community Service, Most Improved, Best Overall GPA, and Best Attendance.

Twelve money awards of $250.00 are presented to students at the end of the year. Awards are given for each of the categories in each of the Tenth, Eleventh, and Twelfth grades at ICTC. This program is designed to motivate the students the same way that businesses reward exceptional employees-- they are given a bonus when they do an exceptional job.

Dan Perkins, founder of MTS Technologies, Inc., started the Challenge Program. He began working for just a few cents a day at the age of eleven and through his solid business values and strong work ethic, Mr. Perkins became very successful. Because of his good fortune, Mr. Perkins wants to give back to students a lot more than just a few cents. In its first year, the Challenge Program included only one school, but the program now has skyrocketed. For the 2006-2007 school term, The Challenge Program, Inc. estimates that more than 70,000 students in 150 schools will hear the program's message. During Spring 2007 award ceremonies, more than 864 students will receive more than $216,000 in rewards.

To fund money for the program, the Challenge Program has business sponsors such as Zamias Services Inc., and the Sheetz Corporation.

During the assembly, Ms. Mary Ann Zamias, Manager of Corporate Giving of the Challenge Program, presented students with a brief history of the program and details on how to win the $250.00 awards. She said, “This is the most rewarding job, knowing that I am motivating our future, our youth of today.” She talked about how these four categories were chosen because they are all qualities that colleges and employees look for in students and employees. In addition, she believed that the student’s job and responsibility are to work on these areas now --- and students will be rewarded for their hard work, which is the purpose of the program. Hopefully, this program will motivate the students to participate in community service, attend school, and give their best educational efforts.

Students were given a sense of the prize program when Ms. Zamias awarded cash prizes at the assembly for correctly answering some of her questions. One of the prizes went to Mike Moreau, 12 th grade, Computer Systems Technology, who stated, “The challenge program is handing out cash!” Kayla Boyce, 12 th grade, Cosmetology, agreed, “I am excited to try and win more money!” Another winner, Chris Fry, 12 th grade, Electrical Occupations Technology, added, “Helping people and the community makes me happy. I want to be the next community service winner.”

Other students who correctly answered the questions were: John Montagnino, 12 th grade, Digital Media Technology; Bobbie Jo Krouse, 11 th grade, Health Occupations Technology; Andrew Jewart, 11 th grade, Machining Technology; Mason Griffith, 12 th grade, Welding; Greg Pennington, 12th grade, Carpentry; Sarah O’Hearn, 11 th grade, Cosmetology; Sarah McCachran, 12 th grade, Digital Media Technology; Jordan Johnston, 10 th grade, Auto technology; and Tyler Mumau, 12 th grade, Digital Media Technology.

The students have an entire school year to try and win these $250 prizes, which they can spend in any way they choose. So, to all students out there---keep trying to win these great cash prizes and good luck!

For more information about the Challenge Program, go to www.thechallengeprogram.org.

For more information on the ICTC, click here.

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