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University of Evansville

The Schroeder Family School of Business Administration

You Can Call Us All-Americans

from the Evansville Courier and Press, June 13, 2004.

ATLANTA - Before Saturday night's awards ceremony began, Evansville's delegation at the National Civic League All-America Cities competition had a feeling the news would be good. It was. And best of all, Evansville didn't have to wait to find out. When the jury forewoman began introducing the 10 All-America Cities for 2004, selected from 30 finalists, Evansville was the first name read, sending the city's contingent into a screaming, hugging, high-fiving frenzy. It's the first time Evansville has won the 55-year-old honor. The city was a first-time finalist last year but did not win.

"I can only quote Jackie Gleason - how sweet it is," said Matt Meadors, the Evansville Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce's executive director. "What a wonderful feeling." "It really is exciting," Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel said. "A lot of people worked very hard for this." The award recognizes civic achievement. The 10 jurors who choose the winners look for cities that work jointly with businesses, schools, nonprofit groups and others to achieve community goals.

One of the programs highlighted in Evansville's presentation to jurors was the nonprofit Carver Community Organization. Lisa Allen, who coordinates the organization's after-school programs and came to Atlanta with several of her pupils, said winning the honor is "indescribable." "Evansville is an excellent place to raise a family, to raise my kids, and with us coming together to do this thing ... I know I was right in my decision to raise my family here," Allen said.