Posted by The Spectrum, UT on January 25, 2010 at 07:56:57:
Six-year-old wins contest
BY TIFFANY DE MASTERS • tdemasters@thespectrum.com • January 25, 2010
ST. GEORGE - At 6 years old, West Mylroie has not only made a small fortune, but was also able to make a donation to a noble cause.
After winning the Scholastic Push Up and Create contest, West Mylroie's mother, Erin, said her son walked away with $1,000 along with $2,500 he could donate to a school of his choice.
"We found the competition online," Erin Mylroie said. "It looked like a lot fun, like playing a computer game - it was just a fun experience to play around."
"We're going to buy a lot (of Popsicles) and save the wrappers in my journals," West Mylroie said.
Part of being a winner in the contest, was West Mylroie's design is going to be on some of the wrappers of Push Up Popsicles. He said designing a robot out of Popsicles on the computer and seeing it on the wrappers was the most fun.
West Mylroie spent his money frugally. He bought a Nintendo DS for him and his sister and put the rest into a college fund.
West Mylroie's older sister also entered the contest. His mother said her children made an agreement that whoever won, they would split the winnings.
"He was absolutely thrilled (to win)," Erin Mylroie said. "You can't imagine his excitement."
She added it's been a great thing to let him put away a little money for school and have a little bit of pocket money all before the age of 7.
"He wants to be a doctor someday so every little bit will help," Erin Mylroie said.
West Mylroie chose the $2,500 to go to George Washington Academy, a charter school in St. George. He said he picked that school because it needs the money.
Amy Trombetti, director at the academy, said the money has gone toward the arts at the school.
"The kids are really the ones who benefit from this," she said. "I think it's every teacher's dream to get a $2,500 budget and shop - all the money will go into the classroom."
The money will buy supplies to help the kids continue to learn about all the arts offered at the academy. Some of the art classes available are Islamic arts and architecture, abstract art, renaissance, art from different countries, portraits, World War II and photography and more.
West Mylroie is currently a finalist in the Jif Most Creative Peanut Butter Sandwich Contest. His sandwich and recipe can been at http://www.jif.com/promos/pbsandwich10/vote.asp.
To win people must vote on his sandwich, More Rockin 'Moroccan Peanutty Pitas. Erin Mylroie said if he wins he could win up to $25,000 in scholarship money.
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