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AARP donates over $1 Million to public High Schools…'Legacy Awards' celebrate AARP founder's legacy, spotlight schools that connect generations, communities

VALLEY GLEN, Calif., Feb. 7 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In celebration of AARP's 50th Anniversary and to recognize the outstanding educational achievements in public high schools throughout the nation, AARP today announced the winners of The Ethel Percy Andrus Legacy Awards.

AARP has donated more than $1 million to support educational programs which have demonstrated a commitment to connect generations and foster greater civic engagement among students and their communities.

AARP was founded 50 years ago by Ethel Percy Andrus, a retired teacher and principal from California. "Dr. Andrus was a champion for all generations who believed, as we do today, that the generations are connected by a strong commitment to values, community and service," said AARP CEO Bill Novelli.

"These awards not only pay tribute to the legacy of Dr. Andrus, but also underscore our continued intergenerational commitment to recognize and encourage educational achievements in communities throughout the nation. Congratulations to all of the winning schools."

Public high schools in cities designated as focal points of AARP's 50th anniversary celebrations were eligible to compete for the $100,000 awards. In addition, public high schools in all U.S. states and territories were eligible to compete for $10,000 awards honoring innovative programs.

 In total, AARP received nearly 1,000 applications from public schools throughout the nation and granted an Innovation Award to one public high school in every US state including Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the District of Columbia.

Entries were judged by a blue ribbon panel of nationally known educators and civic leaders, including: Governor Gaston Caperton, President and CEO, the College Board and former governor of West Virginia; Dr. James (Jim) Kielsmeier, President and CEO, National Youth Leadership Council; Dr. Joyce Payne, AARP Board Member and former Vice President of the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges; Maria Tukeva, National award winning principal, Bell Multicultural Senior High School, Washington, DC; and Neal Wolin, President and Chief Operating Officer, Property and Casualty Company, The Hartford.

The complete list of award winners is available below.

Additional information about AARP's 50th Anniversary is available at http://www.aarp.org/.

The winners of the $100,000 awards are:

-- Atlanta's Alonso A. Crim Open Campus High School's Family-Ties-Day-Care program, where children receive quality care as their student parents participate in programs to promote the development of leadership and life skills;

-- Chicago's Theodore Roosevelt High School's Musical Theater Program, which brings together people of widely varying circumstances, ages, experiences and cultures as students collaborate to produce musicals for the community;

-- Washington, D.C.'s McKinley Technology High School's Project SWEEP (Solid Waste Education and Enforcement Program), which connects students with agencies to promote energy conservation and environmental protection through outreach efforts to educate citizens and businesses about recycling;

-- Houston's Furr High School's Intergenerational Interdependence - I to the Power of Two program, which prepares students for college and is extending its efforts to create a student volunteer corps that will address the needs of senior citizens in their community;

-- Miami's Young Men's Academy for Academic and Civic Engagement at MacArthur South's STARS (Seniors Teaming with At Risk Students) program, which engages disconnected students by teaching artistic skills and aiding the students in conducting learning workshops for elders in the community; and

-- Philadelphia's Central High School's Power of Student Voices program, which helps connect citizens to the political process and has engaged policymakers across all levels of government.

  The $10,000 award winning schools are:

   Alabama: Central High School

  Alaska: East Anchorage High School

  Arizona: Carl Hayden High School

  Arkansas: Northside High School

  California: Ulysses S. Grant Sr. High School School

  Colorado: Rangeview High School

  Connecticut: Middletown High SchoolHigh School

  Delaware: Seaford Senior High SchoolHigh School

  District of Columbia: Choice Academy Senior High School

  Florida: Pompano Beach High School

  Georgia: Tri-Cities High School Visual and Performing Arts Magnet Program

  Hawaii: Kihei Charter School

  Idaho: Cascade Jr./Sr. High SchoolHigh School

  Illinois: Lewistown Community High SchoolHigh School

  Indiana: Seeger Jr./Sr. High School

  Iowa: Garner-Hayfield High School

  Kansas: Paola High School

  Kentucky: Bowling Green High School

  Louisiana: C. E. Byrd High School

  Maine: Carrabec High School

  Maryland: Eastern Technical High SchoolHigh School

  Massachusetts: Community Academy

  Michigan: North Farmington High School

  Minnesota: St. Paul Central High School

  Mississippi: Columbia High School

  Missouri: North Callaway High School

  Montana: Broadwater High School

  Nebraska: Papillion-La Vista South Public High School

  Nevada: Ed W. Clark High School

  New Hampshire: Merrimack Valley High School

  New Jersey: SCESC Academic Alternative High School

  New Mexico: West Mesa High School

  New York: Middle Early College High School

  North Carolina: Jacksonville High School

  North Dakota: Kulm High School

  Ohio: North Olmsted High School

  Oklahoma: Indianola High School

  Oregon: Hermiston High School

  Pennsylvania: Norristown High School

  Rhode Island: Mt. Hope High School

  South Carolina: Hanna Westside Extension Campus

  South Dakota: Chester Area Cyber School

  Tennessee: Lenoir City High School

  Texas: Corsicana High School

  Utah: Milford High School

  Vermont: Montpelier High School

  Virgin Islands: St. Croix Educational Complex

  Virginia: Colonial Forge High School

  Washington: Wahluke High School

  West Virginia: George Washington High School

  Wisconsin: Dodgeland High School

  Wyoming: Wheatland High School