Salt Lake Community High School had a $7,000 idea. The school was winner in the First Interstate Bank's Best Idea program and will use its money to create an incentive program for attendance and performance at the Salt Lake District alternative high school.
First Interstate invited high schools in Salt Lake County to submit ideas on how to motivate students to greater academic achievement. The three finalists were the Salt Lake high school, Cyprus High School in Granite District and West High School, also Salt Lake District.SLCH wants to reward both students and teachers for attendance and performance. Recognition will be given for best attendance, highest grades, community service, improvement and inspiration as well as graduation. Awards will range from gift certificates and plaques to airline tickets to allow students to visit similar schools in other cities. Special activities will be planned between semesters in the school's year-round schedule, including trips to national parks, to cultural events or work-training workshops.
First Interstate President Robert C. Gross presented the award. He encouraged other businesses to pick up and fund the ideas presented by the runners-up.
A day earlier, a similar award was presented to Washington High School, Ogden District's alternative high school. It was the first year the bank had opened the Best Idea contest to schools outside the Salt Lake area.
Judges this year were Jean Irwin, arts and education coordinator, Utah Arts Council; Gilbert Stephenson, former Jordan District educator; Quinn McKay, private consultant; Andrew Schilly, retired IBM executive; and Philip Cofield, president, Junior Achievement of Utah.