Pomona teacher's contest win to benefit students

A Lincoln Elementary School teacher is among 20 winners of Wal-Mart's "Write to Change the Classroom" essay program.

Melissa Galvan will receive $4,000 worth of school supplies for her classroom plus an additional $4,000 to be used for school supplies for the entire school, according to a statement released by Wal-Mart representatives.

In her essay Galvan wrote: "Every school day I am blessed to walk into my classroom and be charged with educating my students."

"Receiving these materials will help enrich the lives and learning of my students and would be a blessed gift," Galvan continued.

The company's essay program is open to teachers, parents and students who write about the school supply needs they encounter, the statement said.

The inspiration for the program was an eighth-grader who wrote to her congressman explaining the basic school supply needs she and her classmates were facing and asked the legislator for help.

"Many teachers are unable to provide the essentials - books, paper and pencils - for their students this year. We wanted to help," said Kimberly Sentovich, vice president and regional general manager of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. in California.

In judging the essays, need, creativity and the effect the school supplies would have on the campus where considered, the statement said.

The judging panel consisted of four teachers from around the country who were recognized by their states for their outstanding work as teachers.

The fifth member of the panel was Ty'Sheoma Bethea, the eighth-grader who wrote her congressman, the statement said.