INDIANAPOLIS --- An essay contest sponsored in conjunction with the NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship has allowed students from Chattanooga-based middle schools the opportunity to share their thoughts on sportsmanship in the classroom, at home and on the playing field.

The NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship will be played in Chattanooga on December 16, and will bring the nation’s top football student-athletes to the city.  The mission of the essay contest was to compliment the championship by encouraging the younger students to learn from the achievements, actions and positive examples set by the group of student-athlete role models.

The contest, sponsored by the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, the Greater Chattanooga Sports and Events Committee and the NCAA, was open to sixth, seventh and eighth graders in the Chattanooga area.

Silverdale Baptist’s Brandon Henry and Alex Johnston were selected as the contest’s grand prize winners.  Additionally, James Bird (Baylor School), Hannah Jumper (Baylor School), Chandler Rasnake (Silverdale Baptist) and Madison Sherman (Silverdale Baptist) were tabbed as school winners.

The school winners will each receive two complimentary tickets to the 2005 NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship game, will be recognized in the championship game program and will receive a framed certificate.

The grand prize winners will each receive a $1,000 savings bond, four complimentary tickets to the championship game, will be recognized in the championship game program and receive a framed certificate.  For more information about the NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship, go to www.ncaasports.com.

The NCAA is a membership-led nonprofit association of colleges and universities committed to supporting academic and athletic opportunities for more than 360,000 student-athletes at more than 1,000 member colleges and universities.  Each year, more than 49,000 student-athletes compete in NCAA championships in Divisions I, II and III sports.