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Small School Wins Big in U.S. Cellular's Calling All Communities $1 Million Campaign

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo., Feb. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- The element of surprise never gets old, especially when there's $100,000 at stake. Today, U.S. Cellular representatives delivered the exciting news to St. Francis Xavier School students and faculty that they had been crowned the eighth champion in the company's Calling All Communities campaign.

"This is simply amazing. I'm so excited for the children," said Principal Donna Frazier, who got a call from U.S. Cellular less than 24 hours before the surprise announcement. "Some people said we were too small to win this, and that made us work even harder to prove them wrong."

Frazier played the perfect decoy. As she captured the attention of faculty, staff and the school's 180 students over the intercom, more than 80 U.S. Cellular associates, parents and community members burst into the classrooms launching confetti and tossing 100 Grand candy bars and t-shirts. The celebration spilled into the hallways, and students paraded to the gym led by U.S. Cellular mascot, Cellby.

"We are so excited to have our first champion in Missouri," said Nathan Waddell, director of sales for U.S. Cellular. "The community spirit is so great here. I knew we could do it."

Early in the campaign, St. Francis Xavier showed up in the rankings at number 60. The community made a strong push for votes near the end which helped topple several frontrunners and bumped the school into the winner's circle.

Schools can spend the money however they choose. According to Frazier, the first 10 percent will go back to the church with a plan to invest a major portion of the winnings in a new gym floor.

Voter participation in the Calling All Communities campaign nearly quadrupled from last year with 430,000 votes cast for 6,800-plus schools nationwide. U.S. Cellular associates will make spontaneous visits to the two remaining schools over the next week. Visit uscellular.com/callingallcommunities or U.S. Cellular's Facebook page to view winning school results.

About U.S. Cellular

The 9,000 associates of U.S. Cellular believe a wireless phone enhances people's lives and a wireless company should be in the business of bringing people together. U.S. Cellular has a wide range of monthly plans, including those with unlimited nationwide calling, unlimited free incoming calls and options to prepay. The company made the commitment to invest more than $4.5 million in teachers and schools during 2009 and 2010. Based in Chicago, U.S. Cellular is the nation's sixth-largest wireless service provider with 6.2 million customers across the country. To learn more about the company visit one of its retail stores or uscellular.com.

SOURCE U.S. Cellular