Fourteen Minnesota High Schools Named Winners in Toyota's 'Drive For Education' Contest

USA - English

• USA - English

ST. PAUL, Minn., March 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Fourteen high schools in Minnesota have been named winners of Toyota's "Drive For Education" contest.  The schools will receive $2,500 each at the upcoming Minnesota State Hockey Tournament in St. Paul, with the top two schools awarded an upgraded grant of $10,000.

All winners will be acknowledged during KSTC-TV/Channel 45's coverage of the Boys' Minnesota State High School Hockey Tournament, March 10-13, in St. Paul.  

Per the rules of the contest, students had to write a short essay specifically detailing how their school could use the $2,500 and $10,000 prizes to enhance education, with specific monetary earmarks.  The winning schools include:

• Harding High School (St. Paul)
• Prior Lake High School (Prior Lake)
• Byron High School (Byron)
• Nicollet High School (Nicollet)
• Mayer Lutheran High School (Mayer)
• Pine Island High School (Pine Island)
• Osakis High School (Osakis)
• Mayo High School (Rochester)
• LeRoy-Ostrander High School (LeRoy)
• St. John Vianney Academy (Long Prarie)
• Deer River High School (Deer River)
• Crosby-Ironton High School (Crosby)
• Eveleth-Gilbert High School (Eveleth)
• Burnsville High School (Burnsville)

"We had numerous worthwhile submissions in this year's contest and these 14 schools represent the best of the best," said Shawn Caso, Regional Merchandising Manager for Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.'s Chicago sales office.  "It's heart-warming to see the number of students eager to assist their schools and improve educational and extra-curricular opportunities for their peers."

Over the past 21 years, Toyota and its Minnesota-based dealers have donated more than $400,000 to further education in the state.  

About Toyota

Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc. is the marketing, sales, distribution and customer service arm of Toyota, Lexus and Scion.  Established in 1957, TMS markets products and services through a network of more than 1,400 Toyota, Lexus and Scion dealers.  Toyota directly employs nearly 34,000 people in the U.S. and sold more than 1.77 million vehicles in 2009.  For more information about Toyota, visit www.toyota.com, www.lexus.com, www.scion.com or www.toyotanewsroom.com.

SOURCE Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc.