Although they didn’t win an online voting contest, the graduating class at San Miguel School of Tulsa is still going to the grand opening of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios in Orlando, Fla.
Schools from across the nation submitted video entries to the “Most Extraordinary Class” competition, sponsored by NBC’s Today Show. San Miguel was chosen as one of four finalists. The winner, or winners in this case, were announced on a nationwide, live broadcast of the program on May 20. Videos from the four finalists were aired earlier on the Today Show and also posted on the program’s web site. The original plan called for online voting to pick the winner of the all-expense paid trip to the grand opening of the theme park based on the popular Harry Potter movies.
Students, faculty and friends of San Miguel gathered in the school’s activity center at 6 a.m. for a live broadcast of their reaction to the results of the contest. There were a few tears of disappointment when, at about 7:45 a.m., it was announced that Wilderness Oaks Elementary School in Weatherford, Texas had won the online voting. But producers of the show had a surprise for everyone. Actress Emma Watson, who plays Hermoine Granger in the Harry Potter movie series, announced that each of the classes were extraordinary in their own way and all four were awarded the trip to Universal Studios.
“We’re all hyped,” said Jesus Carvajal, one of the eighth graders going to Florida. “This will be such a positive experience for everyone. We are all so excited.”
Although San Miguel didn’t get the most online votes, it wasn’t because of lack of effort. Joe O’Connor, president of the board of San Miguel, said many in Tulsa’s Catholic community tapped into their personal internet network. He said the school received votes from at least nine states and six foreign countries including Azerbaijan, Brazil, El Salvador, Mexico, Italy and Peru. And that’s just the votes he knows of.
“We’re finding friends we didn’t know we had,” Mr. O’Connor said. “We tapped into international social networks of the LaSallian community, the Christian Brothers community, Bishop Kelley High School (a co-sponsor of San Miguel School) and, of course, Catholics throughout the diocese. The community just came together and it has been tremendous.”
Ann Sullivan is the teacher who submitted the video and got the class involved in the contest.
“For the majority of these kids, it will be the first time they have flown on an airplane or stayed in a hotel. They have worked so hard for this. I’m so happy for them. I had to try very hard to not cry on national television,” she said.
The trip to Orlando will replace a planned class trip to Frontier City in Oklahoma City. The 19 graduating eighth graders and chaperones will make the trip to Universal Studios on June 17-20.
Both Ms. Sullivan and Mr. O’Connor thanked the many supporters, especially Bishop Kelley High School and the LaSallian community for making San Miguel what is today.
“To be extraordinary, you need the support of a lot of people and we have that at San Miguel. And this class certainly is extraordinary,” said Ms. Sullivan.
San Miguel in Orlando San Miguel students Teresita Garcia, Flor Lozano and Denise Reyna during their recent trip to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Orlando, Fla.
San Miguel Class Wins Trip to Orlando Although they didn’t win an online voting contest, the graduating class at San Miguel School of Tulsa is still going to the grand opening of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios in Orlando.
San Miguel School to Relocate Classrooms San Miguel School is soon moving out of the basement of St. Francis Xavier Church and into the Catholic Charities buildings.
