First Team Auto Mall

First Team is very proud to team up with RAYSAC again this year to help keep high school students safe on prom night! This year First Team is giving away the all new 2012 Hyundai Veloster! Stay tuned for more details. View the PSA on YouTube

ROANOKE -In Stephen Biscotte's classes, "the students are expected to DO science,
not just KNOW science" - so says one of Mr. Biscotte's colleagues.
The Roanoke County Education Foundation today announced that Stephen Biscotte,
anatomy and physiology teacher at Cave Spring High School is the recipient of the 2011
Golden Apple Award. Among his many accomplishments, Biscotte has implemented
several new instructional projects including the PIT (Physicians in Training) Crew and a
new green outdoor classroom and eating area.

Each year, teachers from across Roanoke County Public Schools are nominated by
students, parents, co-workers and administrators to receive the highest award presented to
a teacher by the Education Foundation. This year, 114 teachers were nominated to
receive the award -27 teachers were named as semi-finalists.

In addition to the Golden Apple Award, the Education Foundation also named three
Golden Apple finalists, one for the elementary school level, one for the middle school
level and one for the high school level.

The Golden Apple finalists are:
 Christine Stanley - First grade teacher at Bonsack Elementary
 Laurel Look ?-sixth grade health and P.E. teacher at Glenvar Middle
 James Franco - Theatre Arts at Glenvar Middle and High schools

The Education Foundation also recognizes a new teacher who has taught in Roanoke
County for three years or less. This is called the Green Apple Award.
The winner of the 2011 Green Apple Award is Janet Barney, a fourth grade teacher at
Burlington Elementary School.

"We are very proud of all the teachers at Roanoke County Public Schools," said
Education Foundation Chairman Lenora Downing. "The Golden Apple Award
recognizes the best of the best when it comes to teaching. We were extremely impressed
with all our finalists. It was very difficult to select a winner," Downing said.
In addition to receiving a check for $3,000, Biscotte received an additional award - the
use of a brand-new 2011 Hyundai Santa Fe SUV for one year, courtesy of First Team
Hyundai.

"We're thrilled to embrace education and recognize the hard work of our teachers. We're
pleased we can help teachers know how much the community appreciates everything they
do," said David Dillon, President and General Manager of First Team Auto Mall. The
car also comes with custom license plates that read GR8- TCR. (Great Teacher).

About the Roanoke County Education Foundation:
The Roanoke County Education Foundation was created in 1991 as a 501 (c) 3 non-profit
organization to help young people in Roanoke County Public Schools meet some of their
educational and personal goals. Our mission is to promote the advancement and further
the aims and goals of Roanoke County Public Schools through the development and
application of donated financial resources. We provide student scholarships for
graduating seniors; classroom grants for innovative teaching ideas; assist with student
travel to attend state and national competitions; provide resources for international
education; and assist students in remedial education and substance abuse programs.
Since our inception, we have provided more than $720,000 in scholarships to 1059
graduating seniors; more than $186,000 in classroom scholarships to more than 1000
teachers; and more than $265,000 to support travel and educational programs. In all,
that's nearly $1.2 million in support the teachers and students at Roanoke County Public
Schools.

Support for these programs comes from corporate and private donations. To make a
donation, go online to http://www.supportroanokecountyed.org or call Jean Wynn at 540-
562-3900 ext. 10113.

Luray High School Student wins RAYSAC After Prom Car

Tommy Weaver is new owner of Hyundai Elantra donated by First Team.

 

 

Roanoke, VA (June 5, 2011) ? Students from 30 high schools gathered at Valley View Mall to try to win a new car, but it was Tommy Weaver, a rising senior from Luray High School, who won it.

 

"I turned the key in the lock and it just kept going," Weaver said moments after the key he had drawn successfully unlocked the car, indicating he was the winner.   Weaver called his father immediately upon winning and was overheard saying, "No Dad, I really won!"

 

Weaver was among more than 100 students who won a chance at the car by attending after prom parties designed to keep high school students safe on prom night.  In order to be eligible, students were required to stay at after prom parties until the events concluded.   Four students from each school were selected to attend the After Prom Grand Finale Event at Valley View Mall on June 5.

 

"The car is the incentive," said Kathy Graham Sullivan, coordinator of Roanoke Area Youth Substance Abuse Coalition or RAYSAC.   "When the kids think they might win a new car, they tend to stay at after prom parties where they are safe."  Sullivan pointed out that since the programs' inception 23 years ago not a single student had been injured or killed in a vehicular accident at a school participating in the car giveaway program.  Sullivan thanked First Team Auto Mall of Roanoke, which has donated the car for the last 21 years.

 

"We think it's important to keep these kids safe on prom night," said First Team General Manager David Dillon, who was on hand for the giveaway.  "If we can keep kids safe at 30-plus high schools by making a car available, we think it's worth the investment in our communities."

 

Prior to the car giveaway, the students played games to compete for prizes valued at about $100 each.  At least one student from every high school earned one of those prizes, which were mostly electronics.  After that, each student drew a key at random from a basket.  Approximately 40 students tried their luck before Weaver's key successfully unlocked the door.

 

Weaver plays golf and baseball for Luray High School.  He says he plans to go to college where he hopes to major in engineering.

"It's a great feeling," said Sullivan.  We made Tommy's day, and we kept lots of kids safe for another year."

 

For more information on how to help keep kids safe on prom night or to make a donation to the cause, call Kathy Sullivan at (540) 982-1427 ext. 2123 or visit www.raysac.org

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About RAYSAC: RAYSAC is a group of concerned citizens, parents, students, teachers, police officers, business people, judges, and other caring individuals that are striving to keep the youth of the Roanoke Valley and Southwest Virginia alcohol, tobacco and drug-free.  RAYSAC was incorporated in 1984, as a non-profit organization.  In 1993, the coalition received the IRS letter verifying the coalition's 501 (C) (3) status.

 

About First Team Auto Mall: With all new State of the Art facilities completed in 2004, First Team proudly serves Central and Southwest Virginia with award winning customer service with our Hyundai, Nissan, Subaru, and Volkswagen franchises as well as our Used Car Super Center featuring Gold Check Certified and Value Select pre-owned cars and trucks. We are located at the intersection of Peters Creek Road and Barrens Road in north Roanoke County or please call us at toll free at 1-800-533-5188.