FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

FLORIDA STATE FAIR HOSTS 1ST ANNUAL STUDENT DAY RALLY

4800 U.S. Highway 301 North
Tampa, FL 33610
Phone (813) 621-7821             Fax (813) 740-3505             http://www.floridastatefair.com/

[NEWS RELEASE] TAMPA, FL. — February 7, 2008.   The 1st annual Florida State Fair Student Day Rally is organized through the efforts of five organizations including the Florida State Fair Authority, the MacKinnon Family Foundation, Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, Hillsborough County School Board, and the Hillsborough Education Foundation. The 2008 Florida State Fair Student Day Rally will feature several speakers, a special musical performance, and scholarship donations.

The 2008 Student Day Rally is scheduled to take place at Noon on Friday, Feb. 8 at the Florida State Fair in the Ford Amphitheatre.  Students in Hillsborough County from kindergarten through 12th grade were invited to attend the rally featuring a variety of entertainment and guest speakers.

The MacKinnon Family Foundation donated $10,000 in scholarship money that was equally matched by the Hillsborough Education Foundation, amounting to a total of $20,000. The money was split into six separate scholarships; five for high school seniors and one for an eighth grade student in Hillsborough County.

Sandy MacKinnon, Chairman for the Fair Authority, stated that:
“The MacKinnon Foundation is thrilled to help spearhead this effort in making scholarships available to worthy students in an effort to help them in continuing their formal education.”

All of the seniors in Hillsborough County were encouraged to enter the scholarship drawing online through the Hillsborough Education Foundation website. Five high school seniors were chosen by a Florida State Fair Authority committee to receive a $2,000 Hillsborough Community College scholarship. The eighth grade student was chosen by Hillsborough Education Foundation to receive a prepaid college scholarship valued at $12,000. The prepaid scholarship is divided into two years prepaid at a community college and two years prepaid at a Florida university of his/her choice.

Bill Hoffman, President of the Hillsborough Education Foundation, stated: “We are thrilled to be partnering with the Florida State Fair Authority and the MacKinnon Family Foundation to award these scholarships. We hope the scholarships have a lasting impact on the recipients and their families.”

After the scholarship winners are announced, the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office (H.C.S.O.) will talk about Operation Safe Return and the agency's latest child safety tool: an interactive computer flash drive. Deputies will be uploading the flash drives and giving them to parents free of charge. The flash drives store data/photographs of every family member for quick access during an emergency, and also can generate a "MISSING" child poster.  The flash drives will be given away from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Ford Amphitheatre.  Hillsborough County Sheriff, David Gee stated: "The Student Day Rally is a perfect opportunity to showcase the partnership between the Sheriff's Office and the Florida State Fair as we all work together to keep our children safe.''

Additionally, the Florida State Fair Authority will present a check at the Student Day Rally in the amount of $6,000 towards grants to benefit Hillsborough Education Fund for its Teaching Tools program.  Schools supplies purchased through this program are made available to classroom teachers free of charge.  The Fair Authority's contribution will actually generate a value four times greater, closer to $25,000 in supplies since the Foundation is able to buy the supplies at close-out prices.

MaryEllen Elia, Superintendent for Hillsborough county Public Schools, says "The Florida State Fair is a great event for our students to learn, to show off their talents, and to have fun. I'm particularly excited about the collaboration this year between the Hillsborough County Public Schools and the Fair Authority.  We have worked together to make the fair better than ever, and the community benefits." 

A speech by Chris Hovan, defensive tackle for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, precedes the H.C.S.O. demonstration. The rally will conclude with a final performance by Fair performer Dennis Lee, also presiding as the Master of Ceremonies. The day will be both educational and fun for the school kids who deserve their day at the fair too!

###

For media inquiries, please contact:
Denise Shreaves:  This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it  
Manager of Marketing & Public Relations
Florida State Fair Authority
Phone (813) 627-4314 / Cell (813) 732-0141
 
OR

Vince Caruso:  This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Marketing Director 
Florida State Fair Authority
Phone (813) 627-4222 / Cell (813) 477-3146