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Winners at top of class in both academics and community service

Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc., (TMS) rewarded 100 high school seniors with $1 million in college scholarships for their commitment to education and community service at an awards banquet tonight.

The winners, who make up the 12th class of Toyota Community Scholars, were chosen from a pool of more than 8,000 students nationwide nominated by their schools. To be eligible, students must be proven leaders both in the classroom and in their communities.

Based on its accomplishments, the 2008 class learned at an early age that “giving back” to the community was not an obligation, but, rather, a way of life. As one Scholar, Jacob Rouse of Union, Ky., put it: “When helping others, an incredible feeling is instilled in your veins. This feeling allows you to believe you have meaning in the world.”

For the 2008 class, their dreams of making a difference became reality through programs ranging from raising $120,000 for the American Cancer Society to collecting over 3,000 pounds of food that was distributed to youngsters at more than 160 schools. In addition, one scholar - a cancer survivor and amputee - has personally visited over 600 patients with the same afflictions, providing them with gift boxes.

“It is truly amazing to see what these 100 high school seniors have accomplished at such a young age,” said Michael Rouse, TMS corporate manager of philanthropy and community affairs. “Their dedication both to academics and community service is an inspiration to all of us.”

The scholarships are valued at $20,000 or $10,000 each, over four years, for study at a four-year college or university starting in the fall of 2008. Since the Toyota Community Scholars program began in 1997, TMS has awarded over $13 million in scholarships to 1,200 students across the U.S.

Kristen Allcorn, a Toyota Community Scholar from Sedalia, Mo., is a prime example of the dedication to community service exhibited by this year’s class. As the founder of The Community Cafe, Allcorn and her group of volunteer students have provided over 11,000 free evening meals to needy residents in her hometown. Hot meals are served five nights a week, with plans to expand that to three meals each day, seven days a week.

All told, Allcorn and her group have raised over $13,000 to keep The Community Cafe operational.

Consequently, Allcorn, like many of the Scholars, found community service to be the roadmap to what she wants to do in the future. “I never imagined the impact The Community Cafe would have on my community or myself. The Community Cafe has influenced my career plans, and I have committed to living a life of service.”

The Toyota Community Scholars program is administered by Educational Testing Services in Princeton, N.J. The 12 national winners ($20,000 each) and 88 regional winners ($10,000 each) were selected by a panel of college and university admissions officials from across the U.S.

The scholarship winners were guests of honor tonight at an awards banquet in San Antonio that was attended by education, community, business and government leaders. Liz Murray, subject of the Lifetime Television movie, From Homeless to Harvard, was the keynote speaker.

The two-and-a-half-day program included a tour of Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Texas, Inc., in San Antonio, which builds the Tundra full-size pickup truck. In addition, the Scholars enjoyed an authentic Texas BBQ dinner, with games, entertainment and dancing at the Rio Cibolo Ranch.

Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc. is the marketing, sales, distribution and customer service arm of Toyota, Lexus and Scion in the United States, marketing products and services through a network of 1,427 Toyota, Lexus and Scion dealers in 49 states. Established in 1957, TMS and its subsidiaries also are involved in distribution logistics, motorsports, and research and development.

2008 TOYOTA COMMUNITY SCHOLARS
Community Service Snapshots

Following is a small sampling of community-service projects performed by the 2008 class of Toyota Community Scholars (more detail can be provided upon request; student interviews can also be arranged).

• Surviving cancer and an amputation inspired this Scholar to found the Hearts of Hope project, where she mentors and personally visits cancer patients and amputees as they undergo treatments and/or recover from limb loss. Over the past nine years, she has visited more than 600 patients, and dedicates more than 300 hours of service per year to patients and their families. She funds the project herself with money earned from a part-time job. (Shanna Decker, Plainview, Minn.)
• Founded The Community Cafe, a soup kitchen that has provided more than 11,000 meals to the needy. The Community Cafe has also raised more than $13,000 from civic groups and individuals. Hot meals are currently served five nights a week; the program also provides a take-out meal service. This Scholar hopes to expand The Community Cafe to offer meals three times each day, seven days a week to ease hunger and help to relieve the financial strain of the people served. (Kristen Allcorn, Sedalia, Mo.)
• This Scholar helped raise $21,000 to benefit Team River Runner, an organization that rehabilitates wounded U.S. soldiers at a local hospital by teaching them to kayak. The majority of the funds bought a new transport van as well as three new kayaks for the wounded veterans to use. His work with the organization has helped raise awareness about the wounded soldiers recovering at nearby Walter Reed Hospital. (Eric Weisberg, Bethesda, Md.)
• In 2005, founded Beyond All Borders - a project that aims to help children suffering from weekend hunger. The program has since collected over 3,000 pounds of food for distribution to more than 160 schools in New Jersey. Beyond All Borders has also expanded its focus to global-hunger issues by reaching out to help alleviate Kenya’s hunger problems. This student’s group also raised $5,300 to plant five acres of passion fruit for 50 Kenyan farm families. (John Monagle, Clark, N.J.)
• Based on the need for programs focused on character-development in children, this Scholar started a non-profit foundation called the Open My Eyes Foundation, which carries a message encouraging students to see every person as valuable. By means of the book she has authored, Look At Me I Am Just Like You, this Scholar has led discussions with over 1,500 children, ultimately raising awareness that leads students to accept diversity. She is confident that her project will help put an end to loneliness, racism, suicides, self-centeredness and bullying in forthcoming generations. (Abigail Hardin, Clinton, Miss.)

Source: Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.