Not just your typical check presentation… Congrats to Truman Elementary!

I recently had the exciting opportunity to visit with Truman Elementary in Springfield, Missouri to present them with $10,000 for winning 1^st place in the 2017 UCT Gives Back AGAIN to Schools video contest! To say they were appreciative is an understatement. This school is so deserving of the award that they feel keeping it to themselves wouldn’t do it justice.

Jean Lawson, Special Education Teacher at Truman Elementary, explained, “Our first priority is to offer to schools in the Springfield district who have the most significantly impacted students, an opportunity to start up or enhance their own Rolling Café’s. We would like to pass along what we’ve learned through this process, as well as a learning plan with IEP goals that connect with running the Rolling Café. It costs several hundred dollars to purchase the equipment and then a couple more hundred dollars for start-up products. The generosity of UCT will allow us to multiply our efforts for many other students.”

The celebration event consisted of the entire elementary school including kindergarten through 5^th grade coming together in their gymnasium. And just a side note… these were the best-behaved kids I have ever seen!! Jean Lawson was present to accept the donation, as well as Truman Elementary Principal, Joellyn Travis.  Parents, teachers, school administrators and local media were also in attendance to celebrate this pivotal day at Truman Elementary.

One thing I didn’t expect during my visit was to learn that the individual who created and submitted this winning video just happens to be a former student at Eldon High School in Eldon, Missouri – another school who also won 1^st place and $10,000 from UCT during the 2013 UCT Gives Back AGAIN to Schools video contest! You’ve got to be kidding me, right?! More on this individual coming in another blog… stay tuned!

Needless to say it was an exciting day to witness this wonderful school win this tremendous prize. Congratulations again to TRUMAN ELEMENTARY!! We can’t wait to see what wonderful things you accomplish with your $10,000!