May 7, 2009
Photo Gallery 
(COLLEGE STATION, Texas) - Whataburger and Texas A&M Athletics teamed up to spotlight exceptional College Station area middle school students for their hard work and dedication to the community in and out of the classroom prior to the April 25 Aggies vs. Cowboys baseball game at Olsen Field.
The recognition was part of the Whataburger Winner's Circle program to acknowledge students across the state for contributions to their schools, their families and their communities in addition to academic achievements and school involvement. All of the Whataburger Winner's Circle winners were recognized during participating universities' basketball and baseball games throughout the spring.
Two students from each participating school were selected by teachers, coaches and counselors based on positive behaviors and actions such as attending class on time, improving academically, being a good citizen, completing homework, being respectful in class and demonstrating leadership qualities. In addition to being recognized at the game, winners received free tickets for family members, free food from Whataburger, and a Winner's Circle certificate and T-shirt.
According to Dr. Betty Creamer at Saint Michaels Academy, students like Rachel Warden deserved to be recognized because of the examples they demonstrated to their fellow classmates in and out of the classroom. Warden recently participated in a school food drive that collected 1,100 pounds of food for the Brazos Food Pantry for the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. Active in her community, Warden was an accomplished musician who plays in community recitals and was described as upbeat, articulate and an enthusiastic example to her peers.
Warden was just one of the 22 students being honored at Saturday's Aggies baseball game; other students being honored included: Christina Vaughn and Jonathan Yax from A&M Consolidated Middle School, Samantha Posey and Clay de Jong from Allen Academy, Tristen Dunman and Auston Ellis from Arthur L. Davila Middle School, Kourtney Brooks and Ricky Desai from College Station Middle School, Clarissa Parulian and James Sturtevant from Cypress Grove Intermediate School, Angelica Corpes and Cesar Lopez from Jane Long Middle School, Alexis Hux and Arterian Burns from Oakwood Intermediate School, Erik Bronstad from Saint Michaels Academy, Jacee Wren and Ben Gonzalez from Sam Rayburn Middle School, Katerina Martinez and Chase Hrncir from St. Joseph Catholic School, and Paige Anding and Chris Morrow from Stephen F. Austin Middle School.
"These students continuously lead and set examples for their peers through their hard work at school, involvement in extra-curricular activities and volunteer efforts in community programs," said Todd Neer, Whataburger Restaurants, LP Regional Director of Operations. "It was an honor to recognize these students for a job well done and to let them know their contributions to their schools and communities haven't gone unnoticed."
Family-owned Whataburger has focused on its fresh, made-to-order burgers and friendly customer service since 1950, when company founder Harmon Dobson opened his first Whataburger restaurant in Corpus Christi. The small, wooden stand sold the enormous burgers for 25 cents each, and before the first week was out, lines stretched down the street. Today, the company has more than 700 locations in 10 states with sales of more than $1 billion annually.