Student's Essay Makes the Grade and Wins Teacher a $25,000 EXPO(R) Classroom Makeover From Celebrity Designer Genevieve Gorder

Student's Essay Makes the Grade and Wins Teacher a $25,000 EXPO(R) Classroom Makeover From Celebrity Designer Genevieve Gorder

The EXPO Classroom Makeover Contest Teams Up With Genevieve Gorder of TLC's Trading Spaces to Enhance Students' Learning by Adding Color to Dull, Drab Classrooms Across the Country -- Including One Lucky $25,000 Grand Prize Winner

OAK BROOK, Ill., Oct. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- From drab to fab, teacher Kristi Wolf from Caddo Middle Magnet School in Shreveport, La., is receiving a colorful, once-in-a-lifetime surprise for her classroom this fall. Thanks to Ms. Wolf's colorful way of teaching and eighth-grade student Ella Wolfe's essay submitted to the EXPO(R) Classroom Makeover Contest, the learning environment is receiving a makeover worth $25,000, created by celebrity designer Genevieve Gorder from TLC's Trading Spaces and EXPO dry erase products.

Wolfe's essay made the final grade as the grand prize winner with judges, beating out more than 11,000 entries nationwide. In her essay, Wolfe compared Ms. Wolf's colorful teaching abilities to the qualities of an Expo marker: always bright, reliable and helpful when reading. In addition to securing the makeover for her classroom, Wolfe also will receive $1,600 in U.S. Savings Bonds.

"I am thrilled that my classroom was chosen for this incredible makeover thanks to Ella's efforts," said Wolf. "This is an extra special surprise for our school, as we have several students who lost their homes during Hurricane Katrina and have relocated to Shreveport. I'm honored that Ella believes I deserve something this special, and I can't wait to share this renovated classroom with her and the rest of my students."

Gorder and the EXPO team will give the room a facelift, converting the old, dusty chalkboards to new EXPO dry erase boards. The classroom also will receive a colorful new design to improve the learning environment, along with a supply of EXPO dry erase markers and accessories.

"Designing a classroom is a dream for me," said Gorder. "Teachers have one of the most important jobs in the world, yet you rarely get that from the aesthetics of the classroom. Kids are my favorite clients, to have a chance to work for them and improve a teacher's environment through functionality and form is something I never pass up."

Survey Finds Teachers Believe Color Enhances Classroom Learning

Results from a survey sponsored by EXPO revealed that teachers and students believe there is a strong connection between color and learning in the classroom. In fact, 92 percent of teachers agreed that color enhances classroom learning for students, and 80 percent of students said that words in color are easier to remember. However, many schools are still struggling with lackluster learning environments due to a lack of budget for renovations and upgrades -- an obstacle that EXPO is aiming to help erase.

"We fielded a survey that confirms that educators find using color to teach in the classroom enhances the learning process, and the majority of students believe it is easier to learn with color," said Phil Dolci, vice president and general manager of EXPO. "We've had tremendous feedback about this program since its inception last year, and have been able to add color and make improvements in many schools that might otherwise lack the means and funding to do so. We are honored to reward the outstanding work of teachers and students, such as Ms. Wolf and Ella -- it's well deserved."

Call for Entries for New Phase of the Contest

EXPO is now teaming up with Gorder to launch the next phase of the contest that students across the country may enter. The second half of the 2006 EXPO Classroom Makeover program runs through the end of December and will award another $25,000 makeover to one lucky school. Students grades 3-12 nationwide should submit a short essay (100 words or less) describing why their teacher deserves a classroom makeover. In addition, 250 first prize winners will receive a classroom makeover worth $1,000 for their school, and nine of those winners become semifinalists in consideration for the grand prize. For more information about the contest and a complete set of contest rules, visit http://www.expomarkers.com/ .

About EXPO(R)

One of Sanford's most popular brands, EXPO(R) is the market leader in dry erase markers and accessories and a maker of boards. Sanford, a Newell Rubbermaid company, is a worldwide leader in the manufacturing and marketing of writing instruments, art products and office organization, including such well known brands as Sharpie(R), Paper Mate(R), DYMO(R), Parker(R), Waterman(R), Foohy(R), uni-ball(R) and Rolodex(R), among others. Sanford makes more than 6,000 products, ranging from markers, pens and pencils to professional art products, fine writing instruments and office organization products. For more information on EXPO, go to http://www.expomarkers.com/ .

For more information, contact:
Sanford: Mike Finn
(630) 481-2195 mike.finn@sanford.com

Weber Shandwick: Christine Johnson
(314) 552-6747 csjohnson@webershandwick.com

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: EXPO Markers

Contact: Mike Finn of Sanford, +1-630-481-2195, or
mike.finn@sanford.com , or Christine Johnson of Weber Shandwick,
+1-314-552-6747, or csjohnson@webershandwick.com

Web site: http://www.expomarkers.com/

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