Afterschool Awards Recognizes Local Children Who Are Making the Most of Their Time After School

LOS ANGELES, CA--(Marketwire - Jul 26, 2012) - Children in elementary and middle school across the U.S. have entered a competition called the Afterschool Awards in order to win a $2,500 prize. Sponsored by JCP, Izod and NOW music, Afterschool Awards is a nationwide contest spotlighting and rewarding outstanding afterschool achievements in four categories: Sports, Community Service, Science, and Music and Arts. The top three finalists in each category now need votes to help them win. Vote at www.afterschoolawards.com and you will be entered to win a $100 JCP gift card.

In Sports, the three finalists are Isabella Boleda from Valley Center, California; Alaina Landry from Brusly, Louisiana; and LiLi Dong Mandler from Las Vegas, Nevada. Isabella is a 12-year-old equestrian who rides a 23-year-old rescue horse as well as helping autistic kids through horse therapy. Alaina is a 12-year-old gymnastic prodigy already at level 7 of the 10 levels of gymnastic experience, and LiLi is a 9-year-old figure skater who has won over 60 medals and trophies from competitions.

In Community Service, the three finalists are Julien Levy from Belmont, California; Winter Vinecki from Salem, Oregon; and Joshua Williams from Miami Beach, Florida. Julien is a 13-year-old environmentalist who has devoted his childhood to planting trees, and restoring the area in San Bruno, California, devastated by a recent gas pipe explosion. Winter is a 13-year-old who has founded an organization called Team Winter to raise prostate cancer awareness after losing her father to it. Joshua is an 11-year-old who has had a dream of ending world hunger since the age of five, and has already fed over 8,100 individuals with over 38,000 pounds of food.

In Science, the three finalists are Ryan Torigian from Simi Valley, California; Hannah Bailey from Salem, Oregon; and Holland Baynard from Wilmington, North Carolina. Ryan is a 13-year-old who is a cadet in the United States Air Force's Civil Air Patrol, learning how to design model rockets, and studies the science of aviation and aerospace while learning to fly airplanes. Hannah is a 9-year-old who designs, builds and programs her own robots to compete in Lego Robotics competitions. Holland is an 11-year-old research scientist who employs methods of survey and data to raise questions on the neurological symptoms of topics.

In Music and Arts, the three finalists are Cheyenne Zaremba from Hamlin, New York; Benjamin Schendler-Terry from Brooklyn, New York; and Johnathan Hang from Ladera Ranch, California. Cheyenne is a 13-year-old Manga artist who creates her own characters. Benjamin is a 13-year-old pianist who has been playing the piano since he was three and hopes to one day form his own youth band. Johnathan is a 14-year-old filmmaker who writes, directs and stars in his productions.