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Students Take Home Big Bucks in Mike Schmitz Challenge

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Collage of photos with students holding a check along with a man

DOTHAN, Ala. - Students from Carver 9th Grade Academy and Dothan High School competed in a cornhole contest Thursday, May 8, with cash scholarships up for grabs! Once again, this year, Mike Schmitz Automotive Group provided $25,000 in cash dispersed among the top winners in the one-of-its-kind competition. The contest was held at the Dothan High School Convocation Center.

The qualification period began August 1 and continued through April 30. The schools established criteria for student participation. Some of the criteria was based on attendance, earning a CCR credit, FAFSA paperwork, and other academic opportunities at Carver 9th Grade Academy and Dothan High School during the school year.  Students earned entries (tosses) in the cornhole contest in those ways.

“A couple of years ago, we were not satisfied with our school’s Report Card, so we came up with an idea that we took to Mike Schmitz.  He put some money behind it -- $25,000 in scholarship money to motivate and incentivize our students to come to school,” said Todd Mitchell, Carver 9th Grade Academy Principal. “Because of that, these students have done what they need to do to meet their benchmarks including graduation requirements and for report card scores to go up.”  

Overall, 1,158 students from Carver 9th Grade Academy and Dothan High School qualified, and 130 students made it to Thursday’s money round part of the cornhole contest. It took around six rounds to narrow the students down to the final ten slots worth the cash scholarships.

“Public school is a priority in Dothan, and we need to help our students succeed.  Business people like me need to step up and help our educators,” said Mike Schmitz, founder of Mike Schmitz Automotive Group and Dothan businessman. “During COVID, public school attendance went way down. We had to think outside the box to figure out a way to get our attendance up here, and it’s worked dramatically. We know that if you attend high school you’ll succeed. And that’s what this is all about!”

This year’s $25,000 cash scholarships winners were:

  • 1st Place and a $10,000 Cash Scholarship: Pari Patel
  • 2nd Place and a $5,000 Cash Scholarship: Evan Dunn
  • 3rd Place and a $3,000 Cash Scholarship: Addison Hendrix
  • 4th-10th Prizes - $1,000 each:Johnathan Castillo, Jayla Gordon, Hayley Chavez, Davis Langford, Brynn Resspress, Rah'kyeriah Ash, and Taharie Myhand

“I’m so excited. Our students are some of the most capable in the Wiregrass.  If we can get them here, they can perform and compete with anybody. And, Mike Schmitz saw our vision in that and the report card scores are going to show all of that,” Mitchell said

After last year’s challenge, chronic absenteeism rates fell over 300% on Carver 9’s campus while report card scores went up seven points. At Dothan High School, chronic absenteeism is down by nearly 14% with increasing signs to exceed that level this school year.

“Dothan City Schools has struggled with absenteeism since COVID, not unlike what school districts have seen nationwide,” said Dr. Dennis Coe, Dothan City Schools Superintendent. “We would like to thank Mike Schmitz for helping Dothan City Schools attempt to resolve this chronic problem that has been occurring across the country.”

“This is exciting, and we win in the end. If our students succeed, our businesses succeed, and our city will succeed,” Schmitz expressed.

Mike Schmitz is the former chairman of the Dothan City Board of Education and former Dothan Mayor.

 

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