By Ben Lawson
ben@seymourherald.com
The Seymour community is once more being asked to rally behind the schools and help them take home a $150,000 prize to upgrade the schools’ technology.
The “Calling all Communities” campaign sponsored by US Cellular will split $1 million among the 18 schools that garner enough votes.  
Seymour High School was one of the selected few during last year’s event, bringing in $100,000.  Since all the Seymour schools voted for SHS to have a cumulative effect, the money was divided among each of them.
“This is huge, huge for us,” said Peggy Oakes, principal of Seymour Intermediate School.
She indicated that should they win, the money would go replacing eight year old technology. Some of which she described as “archaic.”
“For our school, it means a new computer lab,” she said.
Greg Clark, high school principal, echoed that sentiment.  Seymour doesn’t rate a very large technology budget, forcing the administration to rely on fundraisers such as these.
“It’s very important for us,” Clark said.  “Funding is tight.”
Because the high school won previously, it is not eligible to run again.  This year, Seymour Primary School will be the focus, with each school throwing their votes its way.  Should Seymour win, the prize money will go to help all the schools, including Boyds Creek, which has been included this year.
The primary voting method is to go to a US Cellular store and use a voting card to enter your voting number and information every day.  Being a local resident is not required, but each vote must come from a unique cell phone account.  
For anyone interested in helping, but who is unable to vote everyday, the schools are providing voter cards to be filled out with a name, date of birth, address, cell phone number and email address.  Volunteer parents will be able to do the voting each day for anyone who provides this information.
During last year’s campaign, students rallied voter support by hosting pep rallies, marching in the Christmas Parade, creating their own “Calling All Communities” holiday carol and ornament, and posting signage in local businesses.  
The contest will not last as long this year, which will limit the exposure it receives.  School staffs are hoping people will still offer their support for Seymour students.
“To get the money would of course be wonderful,” Oakes said.  “But just seeing the community come together is amazing.”
Voting has already begun and will last through Oct. 6.

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