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 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 state including Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the District of Columbia. 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.

 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.

Additional information about AARP’s 50th Anniversary is available at www.AARP.org and on InfoNet.See the complete list of $10,000-award winners.   Last Updated: February 6, 2008Cont

List of $10,000 Award Winners  • 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• Colorado: Rangeview High School• Connecticut: Middletown High School• Delaware: Seaford Senior High 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 School• Illinois: Lewistown Community High School• Indiana: Seeger Jr./Sr. High School• Iowa: Garner-Hayfield High School• Kansas: Paola High School•

Kentucky: Bowling Green High School•