By Sara Bridget Au

East Orlando Celebrates Education Day, presented by Bright House Networks, was a fun-filled October day at Waterford Lakes Town Center. The East Orlando Chamber of Commerce, local businesses and non-profits teamed up to support our area’s schools. More than 10,000 people attended the event, as schools highlighted their student talents and held fundraisers for upcoming events.

“Thank you for making East Orlando Celebrates Education Day a tremendous success,” said Chamber President Annie Winterbottom. “And congratulations to all of our contest winners!”

Throughout the day, students competed for prizes in a variety of academic contests. The winners were Kenitza Ramirez of Three Points Elementary School who won the UCF Spelling Bee, Ian Dunn of Avalon Middle School who championed the Fairwinds Credit Union Math Olympics, Zachary Blumer of Orlando Lutheran Academy who took top prize in the Lake Nona Science Extravaganza, Danny Singh of University High who won the EOCC Geography Challenge, Anna James of Florida Virtual School who won the Orange Peel Gazette Poem contest, and Vrunda Patel of Stone Lakes Elementary who got the most laughs in the Orange Peel Gazette Joke Contest.

In addition, 25 attendees received a variety of prizes from Insight East Orlando and Fairwinds Credit Union’s Back to School promotion which began in August. Winners were given coupons and prizes from Best Buy, Johnny Rockets, Sbarro’s, Space Walk for a free rental of a bounce house and a free teeth whitening. “Once again the Chamber, the volunteers and the Town Center pulled off a fantastic day for our local schools to showcase to the community,” said Jennifer Thompson, chair of the event for the Chamber and Publisher of Insight East Orlando Magazine.

East Orlando Celebrates Education Day also included scientific demonstrations and introductions to live animals.