New York, NY (January 12, 2005) -- New York Giants running back Tiki Barber and Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Ronde Barber are making Super Bowl dreams come true in the Scholastic Books Clubs/NFL “It Should Be Me” writing contest. The NFL super stars have selected two lucky grand-prize winners, 3rd grader Christopher Deddo from Staten Island, NY and 5th grader Miranda Marquez from Canyon Country, CA, to receive all-expense paid trips for themselves and a guardian to Super Bowl XXXIX in Jacksonville, FL on February 6, 2005, as well as $500 worth of sports equipment for their schools. Christopher wrote that he wanted to see his father, a Captain in the New York City Police Department, go to the Super Bowl, and Miranda, who is taking her favorite teacher to the biggest sports event of the year, wrote that she wanted to win sports equipment for her school in order to help battle childhood obesity.
 
The “It Should Be Me” writing contest was created by Scholastic Book Clubs, a division of Scholastic, the global children's publishing and media company, and the National Football League (NFL) to encourage children to read and write. Students in Scholastic Lucky® Book Clubs (grades 2-3) and Arrow® Book Clubs (grades 4-6) were asked to write a letter of 250 words or less to their favorite NFL player explaining why they should be chosen to win the hottest ticket in football. The grand-prize winners, selected from over 1,600 entries, were judged by NFL stars Tiki and Ronde Barber.
 
Christopher Deddo, an athlete and a non-fiction books fan, who claims that he knew he was going to win from the moment he sent in his entry, wrote his heart-warming letter to Curtis Martin of the New York Jets. Christopher wrote that he wanted to take his father, a Captain in the New York City Police Department, to the Super Bowl. “My dad works very hard,” he wrote, adding “I am really proud of him. He is always playing with me and coaches me in baseball and football… He is the best dad in the whole entire world.”
 
Miranda Marquez, who serves in the school peace patrol, plays soccer, loves rock climbing, and recently donated 11 inches of her hair to “Locks of Love,” believes in staying active and helping the community. Passionate about battling childhood obesity, Miranda wrote that winning the sports equipment for her school would give the students “a chance to exercise more than their minds,” and help them “reach their potential.” Miranda plans to take her favorite teacher, Ms. Zak, to the Super Bowl, because “She loves football, plays many sports, and keep us on our toes.” Miranda also wrote of Ms. Zak, “She is definitely the 'Vince Lombardi' of teaching.”
 
“We are thrilled with the quality of entries and delighted that the powerful incentive of a Super Bowl adventure has inspired so many students to write,” said Judy Newman, President, Scholastic Book Clubs and Scholastic At Home. “We congratulate the lucky winners and applaud Tiki and Ronde Barber for sending a persuasive message to kids that not only do their parents and teachers encourage reading and writing, but also their favorite sports heroes value these important, life-long skills as well.”
 
In addition to the writing contest, Scholastic partnered with the NFL to publish five new football titles, “NFL Team Tracker 2004-5,” “NFL Megastars,” and “NFL Super Bowl: Inside the World's Greatest Game” as well as “Playoff Sensations” and “Quarterback Power.”
 
Scholastic is also donating books to local Jacksonville area children at the annual Super Bowl NFL Experience, a pro football interactive theme park for kids and families.
 
For 56 years, Scholastic Book Clubs have provided monthly catalogues offering top quality books and reading materials from all publishers to teachers in pre-school through high school. Today thirteen different Scholastic Book Clubs reach over one million teachers each month, providing the most sought-after titles at affordable prices for children in classrooms nationwide.
 
About Scholastic
Scholastic Corporation (NASDAQ: SCHL) is the world's largest publisher and distributor of children's books and a leader in educational technology. Scholastic creates quality educational and entertaining materials and products for use in school and at home, including children's books, magazines, technology-based products, teacher materials, television programming, film, videos and toys. The Company distributes its products and services through a variety of channels, including proprietary school-based book clubs, school-based book fairs, and school-based and direct-to-home continuity programs; retail stores, schools, libraries and television networks; and the Company's Internet site, www.scholastic.com.

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