ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, June 10, 1996 TAG: 9606100067
SECTION: NEWSFUN PAGE: NF-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: ELIZABETH HOCK NEWSFUN EDITOR
If only you had $1 million. That would solve all your problems, wouldn't it?
Probably not, but the kids who entered NewsFun's annual writing contest had no problem deciding how they would spend $1 million.
The pretend winners of a pretend lottery were asked to tell in 200 words or less how they would spend $1 million in a single day. Entries were judged by several staff members of The Roanoke Times.
Hawaii would be a popular destination for many who wrote about their dream day. And several of you didn't care to just visit ever-popular Disney World, you wanted to buy it. Some of you would save the rain forest, spend thousands at the mall and build a mansion - all in one day!
Your entries were creative and fun to read. Thanks to all who participated. Now it's on to the winners:
The first-place winner in the sixth-eighth grade division was Lauren Goldsmith, a sixth-grader at Cave Spring Junior High School in Roanoke. Her teacher is Karen Campbell.
In the fourth-fifth grade division, Josh Caldwell, fifth grade, Bethel Elementary School in Christiansburg, took top honors. Susan Frye is his teacher.
Jennifer Ross, a third-grader at Bethel Elementary, was named the winner in the second-third grade division. Her teacher is Ellene Johnson.
In the kindergarten-first grade category, Katie Hedrick, a first-grader at Crystal Spring Elementary School in Roanoke, was the winner. Her teacher is Dana Rocco.
First runner-up in the sixth-eighth grade division was Tara Shepherd, sixth grade, Cave Spring Junior High; and second runner-up was Crystal Zeigler, eighth grade, Floyd County High School. Honorable mention went to: Uyen Le, seventh grade, Ruffner Middle School, Roanoke; Davey Arthur, sixth grade, Cave Spring Junior High; and Erin Altieri, sixth grade, Cave Spring Junior High.
First runner-up in the fourth-fifth grade division was Michael Gregg, fourth grade, East Salem Elementary School. Fifth-grader Katie Schweitzer of South Salem Elementary School was second runner-up. Honorable mention was awarded to: Mary Bowman, fourth grade, Hurt Park School, Roanoke; Mary Disa Mallard Raulfs, fifth grade, Falling Branch Elementary School in Christiansburg; Kerria Webb, fourth grade, Roanoke Academy for Mathematics and Science; Page Crew, fifth grade, South Salem Elementary; Brittany Scott, fourth grade, Eastern Elementary Middle School in Pembroke; Lauren Johnson, fourth grade, East Salem Elementary; and Melonie Epperly, fourth grade, Falling Branch Elementary.
Katie Stinnett, a second-grader at F.W. Kling School in Buena Vista, was first runner-up in the second-third grade division. Nathan Carter, second grade at East Salem Elementary, was second runner-up. The following pupils were awarded honorable mention: Aaron Adam Ayers, second grade, East Salem Elementary; Elizabeth Ericson, second grade, Prices Fork Elementary School, Blacksburg; and Kristin Lawrence, East Salem Elementary; and Aaron Crowgey, third grade, Spiller Primary School in Wytheville.
Stephania Teague of Hardy was named first runner-up in the kindergarten-first grade division. She is in first grade at Burnt Chimney Elementary School. Second runner-up was Christine Cole, first grade, Christiansburg Primary School. Honorable mention went to: Kenzie Conner, kindergarten, Back Creek Elementary School in Roanoke County; Tyisha Hartley, first grade, Christiansburg Primary; and Jeanie Frederick, kindergarten, Christiansburg Primary.
The winner in each age group receives a Roanoke Times tote bag, and their teachers will get a Roanoke Times mug. Following are the winning stories in each age division:
Sixth-eighth-grade-division
At present I was on my way to the airport in a limousine. Life was good. I was rich and had not a care in the world. As soon as I got to the airport, it would be a first-class plane trip to the Bahamas.
Upon arrival at the airport, I was driven right up to the steps of the plane. A couple minutes later, the plane took off and I ordered a Shirley Temple. As soon as I finished, I looked out the window and fell asleep.
The rumbling of the plane landing woke me. I got out as soon as the plane stopped. Off to my hotel I went. I paid to stay in the nicest five-star hotel they had. I went into my suite and changed into my bathing suit. Soon after, I left for the beach.
The sand was soft under my feet, and the water sparkled like the sun. I swam and built sand castles for three hours and then returned to the hotel. I took a hot, steamy bath and then got dressed. A cruise back home would be nice, I decided. So 15 minutes later, I boarded the huge boat.
The sun was burning, causing my skin to grow hotter and hotter. Only the inside of the boat was air-conditioned. So I went to the pool and ordered some ice-cream. A few people in the pool were playing water volleyball. I joined them and my team won.
As I said, life was good. I guess it would be if you had just won a million dollars to spend in a single day. I was rich and had not a care in the world, until tomorrow.
- Lauren Goldsmith
Fourth-fifth-grade-division
"I'm hurrying Dad," I shouted as I was getting dressed. "
"The bus is coming," he answered. "It's gone now."
Just great. Late for school again. The third time this week. He told me not to watch the movie that came on last night, but I did anyhow. Besides, Jim Carey is my favorite actor.
The rain was pounding on the windows like Indians beating drums. I had to walk to school, because Dad told me this was the last time.
By the time I got to school, I was soaked. On top of that, my teacher was furious. She treated me like a dog in a cage all day long.
I decided to walk home, because I didn't feel like riding on the bus. As I was walking on the side of the road, something caught my eye. I walked closer and noticed that it was a ticket. I decided to pick it up.
I burst into my house. I had a chance to read it before I got hone.
"Dad! Look what I found." I showed him the ticket.
His hands trembled, his head reared back and he out out a loud "Yahooooo!" He couldn't believe it, and I could hardly believe it. I had won a million dollars.
I went to work right away on what I would use it for. After thinking a while, I had an idea.
I would set up a school in Virginia. It would have the highest technology in the U.S.
The very next day the plan was put into action. Computer geniuses from everywhere came.
Within two months it was built. Everything was controlled by computers. Everybody had one. More things were taught there, and all who graduated were the smartest people in the world.
I have to admit my idea was smart, and it made the world a better place.
- Josh Caldwell
Second-third-grade-division
"Come on, Mom, you have to believe me."
"You did not," Mom said.
"You want to see?" I held up a check for $1,000,000 to show my mom that I did have that amount of money.
We were in the shopping mall and I was ready to buy something. Unfortunately, my mom wouldn't let me.
"If you buy something for me, I'm sure Mom will let you buy anything you want," said my greedy big sister.
"Yah, right," I said, smacking my sister.
"All right, you two, stop fighting. Jennifer, you go buy anything you want," said Mom.
"Yes!" I said, sticking my tongue out at my sister. I went off laughing.
In three hours, I came back with candy, Barbies, hats, necklaces, rings, popcorn, a bouquet of flowers, soda pop, lava lamps and gum for my sister.
"Do you really want all this stuff?" Mom asked.
"No, I really want a big house." I took all of the stuff back, and in three days I was living in a big house.
- Jennifer Ross
Kindergarten-first grade-division
If I won a million dollars, I would buy a Concorde. I would take these people: my sister Maggie; my friend Brittany; my friend Madison; my teacher Miss Rocco; my friend Margaret Bradley; and my teen-age friend, Heather Scott.
We flew on the Concorde to the North Pole. While I was there, I got five baby polar bears. The were $50,000 per bear. Their names were: Lolu, Jesica, Rebecca, Madam and Siera. They were very cute. I loved them a lot.
And with the $900,000 I had left, I would buy one-tenth of Antarctica, and I would fall in love with Santa and get married. I had two baby elves named Elvsy and Sweet Heart. Meanwhile, the people I brought along turned into elves.
I met an Eskimo named Rosebud. She was very nice. She lived beside us in her igloo with her son, Matt.
- Katie Hedrick
LENGTH: Long : 163 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: 1. Michael Thompson, a fifth-grader at Oaklandby CNBElementary School in Roanoke, submitted this drawing of a fun way to
spend the day if he had $1 million. (headshots) 2. Lauren. 3. Katie.
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