Owls Partner With Whataburger Winner's Circle Program
5/10/2006 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 10, 2006
Houston - Being a good kid doesn't always earn the same recognition that a top grade on a report card does, but Whataburger and five Texas universities plan to change that. Whataburger has partnered with middle schools as well as baseball and basketball programs from Rice University, the University of North Texas, Texas A&M University College Station, Texas A&M University Corpus Christi, and Texas A&M University Kingsville to reward students who demonstrate hard work and integrity in and out of the classroom.
The Whataburger Winner's Circle program acknowledges students for contributions to their schools, their families and their communities in addition to academic achievements. All of the Whataburger Winner's Circle nominees will be recognized during participating university basketball and baseball games throughout the spring.
According to teacher Melda Wilkes at Pershing Middle School in Houston, students like Floydreka Ray go beyond getting good grades; they strive to be the best in all areas of their education. For Floydreka, that means excelling in the National Junior Honor Society, student council and advanced dance class despite having to deal with health problems. She faces challenges with a positive and cheerful attitude.
Floydreka is just one of the 13 students being honored at Saturday's Rice Owls baseball game; other students being honored: Stephen Simpson from Cook Middle School; Alfonso Rocha from Wells Middle School; Joey Martinez from Fleming Middle School; Adreil Negrete from Fondren Middle School; Maria Ochoa from Hoffman Middle School; Kevin Vu from Holub Middle School; Helen Ramirez from Killough Middle School; Jo'lenne Barbier from Oritz Middle School; Samantha Sosa from Patrick Henry Middle School; Merari Muller from Project Chrysalis Middle School; Jackie Thai from Revere Middle School; and Megan Serrell from Thompson Intermediate.
Middle school teachers in areas surrounding the five universities were asked to nominate students from their schools. Nominees are chosen based on positive behaviors and actions such as attending class on time, improving academically, being a good citizen, completing homework, and being respectful in class. The winners and their families are then invited to attend a men's basketball or baseball game at the university in their area, given complimentary Whataburgers, and recognized at the game. Each student also receives a Winner's Circle certificate and T-shirt for their hard earned accomplishment.
"Being a good student is about more than making good grades," Preston Atkinson, Whataburger COO, said. "We feel it is important to foster the efforts and talents of our children and recognize the many ways they contribute to their families, schools and communities."
Family-owned Whataburger has focused on their fresh, made-to-order burgers since 1950, when company founder Harmon Dobson opened his first Whataburger restaurant in Corpus Christi, Texas. The small, wooden kiosk sold the enormous burgers for 25 cents each, and before the first week was out, lines stretched down the street. Today, there are more than 670 locations in 10 states with sales approaching $800 million annually.