Ten Arizona schools distinguished themselves as semi-finalists in the 2012 Bookmans School Challenge for their innovative and creative educational efforts. Bookmans received a strong response from elementary to high schools for agricultural, academic and artistic endeavors. The ten semi-finalists entered the second phase of the challenge where each school submits a short video presenting their proposal to the public with a total of $21,000 in cash prizes on the line.

“As schools struggle to meet their educational goals on restricted budgets, they manage to find creative and innovative ways to meet mandates while remaining true to their efforts to foster a life-long love of learning. Bookmans School Challenge is about celebrating school communities for going beyond rote measures. We are excited to see how these schools' videos will depict how they rose to the challenges facing them in the classroom. We think they do all of Arizona proud,” says Bookmans Marketing Director Sheila Kressler-Crowley.

The 2012 Bookmans School Challenge Semi-finalists:
Apache Junction High School, Apache Junction
Apollo Middle School, Tucson
Brinton Elementary School, Mesa
Cortez High School, Phoenix
Flagstaff Arts & Leadership Academy, Flagstaff
Leupp Elementary School, Flagstaff
Manzo Elementary School, Tucson
Mountain Sky Middle School, Phoenix
Palo Verde Magnet Engineering and Technology High School, Tucson
Sewell Elementary School, Tucson

Three of these schools will become finalists in the School Challenge. An internal committee will select two finalists and the third will earn themselves the position of fan favorite finalist. Starting Monday, Feb. 6 two videos will be posted each day on bookmans.com, @bookmans on Twitter and on the Bookmans Facebook page. Voting for the videos will take place with a Bookmans Facebook page poll beginning Saturday, Feb. 11 and continuing through Friday, Feb 17. The top three finalists will be announced Monday, Feb. 20. The 2012 Bookmans School Challenge winner will be announced on Tuesday, March 6 with the second and third place winners each receiving $3,000 and the first place winner receiving $15,000.

For more information on the Bookmans School Challenge including websites for all the semi-finalists, visit http://bookmans.com/community/reading-challenge.