Both were selected

as finalists and one the eventual grand prize winner.

Fifth-grader

Mandy Lewis and third-grader Heaven Swygert wrote about teachers Glenna

Ross and Carolyn Morris, respectively. The essays were selected first

as one of 50 finalists from hundreds submitted by elementary students

throughout metro Atlanta.

Mandy's essay

was choosen as the grand prize winner.

"She said

a lot of really great things about her teacher. That is why the committee

chose her essay as the overall winner," said Brian Carter of the

Atlanta Braves Community Relations Department.

The students

entered into the competition after the ball club hosted its Grand Slam

Program at the school last fall, which featured interactive activities

and appearances by Braves characters. At the end of the program, each

student received a Funbook that included a section where they could enter

an essay contest by writing about their favorite teacher.

Mandy says

she did not enter the contest to compete, but rather because she loves

to write and it gave her an opportunity to tell about a teacher that had

made a major impact on her life.

"When

I decided to do this, I knew I had to write about Mrs. Ross. She was a

hard and pushy teacher who wanted me and other kids to know that you have

to work hard in life to get what you want," said Mandy.

In her essay

she writes, "I remember the same thing she always said to us was,

'You can make a mistake on a project but you can't make a mistake on your

hard work at life.'

"She made

me realize that I should never give up on my dream; if I fall down, I

should pick myself up. You should tell your friends, your family, even

your kids about that one special person in your life that showed you that

working hard will give you an award and there's no such thing of giving

up. All thanks to Mrs. Ross, thank you for helping me."

Both Mandy

and Heaven were treated to an Atlanta Braves game July 20. Beforehand,

they attended a pre-game party with Atlanta Braves players in attendance.

Mandy received a special on-field recognition as the grand prize winner

and was presented with a $100 check from Wachovia Bank.

Mandy says

she plans to spend half the money to purchase clothes for back-to-school

and the rest will be placed in her savings account for college.

Although she

will just be entering the sixth grade at Fayette Middle this year, she

says she has already decided on a career.

"I think

I want to become an emergency veterinarian," Mandy said as she remembered

her favorite teacher's words about hard work and never giving up on dreams.