Earl Travillion

An article copied from the Hattiesburg American November 2, 2006 issue:

Earl Travillion gets speedy delivery By Nancy Kaffer

''With a loud roar, NASCAR driver Carl Edwards pulled up to Earl Travillion Attendance Center on Wednesday morning. Followed by a cavalcade of cars and trucks, some bearing the Office Depot logo, Edwards was the bearer of good news - and good stuff.

''Earl Travillion is the winner of a national sweepstakes that will bring about $100,000 worth of equipment into the school. Among the prizes in store for students and teachers are 30 laptops, backpacks and messenger bags, school supplies, office equipment, gift cards for teachers and a new desk for every teacher. Also presented was $9,999 for scholarships.'' ''Edwards, whose No. 99 car now bears the words "ETAC Tigers," was given a warm welcome by the school's roughly 250 students. The words will remain on Edwards' car as he races Sunday in Dallas.''



"Hopefully we can get them to victory lane," said Edwards, who has pledged to send any trophy he wins in the next several weeks to the school, located in impoverished Palmer's Crossing.

''About 99 percent of the school's students qualify for free or reduced lunch, Principal Chris Furdge said. The free or reduced lunch rate is the federal government's standard for determining the poverty level in an area.''

Sixth-grader Clyde Boggs, 11, is usually busy with his reading lessons on Wednesday mornings.

Greeting Edwards, he said, was a lot more fun than reading "Casey at the Bat."

''"The engine was very loud," said Clyde, who said he's a regular NASCAR viewer. "When he came up the driveway, I thought he was going to spin out!"''

Sixth-grader Joann Davis said she'd been looking forward to the event.

"It's going to be really nice meeting him," Joann, 11, said.

After addressing the student body, Edwards took questions from students, then visited several classrooms with a host of Office Depot executives.

''The sweepstakes is the end result of what merchandisers call a "giveback" program that ran from July through September: 5 percent of the purchases of parents, students or teachers buying school supplies at Office Depot were donated to the specified school, said Office Depot regional vice-president Cheryl Crocker. Earl Travillion was selected from more than 2 million entries nationwide, Crocker said.''

That Earl Travillion still is recovering from Hurricane Katrina was a happy coincidence, she said.

The school didn't suffer massive storm damage, said Forrest County assistant superintendent Debbie Burt, but the buildings that were hit - like the school's gymnasium - were hit hard.

''"Putting it back to its original condition was our goal," Burt said. "But a year away from Hurricane Katrina, we are finding additional damage to the structure."''

Disputes with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the district's insurer delayed progress of the recovery work, she said.

''With most disputes resolved, Burt said the district recently has filed a project worksheet with FEMA for the work on the gym, estimated conservatively at $675,000. Some contracts have been approved and work has begun on the structure, she said, and the Board of Education has reviewed other contracts.''

''Burt said that Earl Travillion, currently ranked Level 4 - Level 5 is the state's top rating - has come a long way in the past six years. In 2000, she said, the school was listed as one of the nation's worst performers. Since the current ranking system was implemented in 2003, the school has moved up from Level 1.''

Hattiesburg Mayor Johnny DuPree said corporate sponsorship can prove to be a boon for a struggling school.

"When businesses adopt a school, they become advocates," he said.

Teacher Sheila Hillman said the supplies are much needed.

''"They're giving us laptops, backpacks, paper, pencils - all that type of stuff is very much needed, for teachers and students," she said. "It's wonderful we happened to be picked, in this area, where the need is greatest."'' ''