Congratulations to Cortez High School for winning the $15,000 grand prize in the 2012 Bookmans School Challenge -- our first ever high school winner! Over the past several months Cortez High School in Phoenix vigorously turned their attention and efforts to the School Challenge in a successful attempt to win the no-strings-attached, unique funding opportunity provided by Bookmans Entertainment Exchange. Manzo Elementary School in Tucson and Flagstaff Arts and Leadership Academy in Flagstaff are also big winners collecting $3,000 each for their deserving projects.

Cortez competed with over 90 other charter and public elementary, middle and high schools across Arizona and thanks to their strong application, creative 5-minute video and teamwork in getting more than 2,000 Facebook followers to vote for them, in addition to an impressive school tour for our committee, this "best kept secret" at 31st Ave. and Dunlap has proclaimed themselves for all to hear.

The Cortez Colts teach us that by pulling together to create a strong school family in what others have labeled a "ghetto" area creates results we appreciate. The Cortez application explains that because of their location they aren't getting the attention they deserve. This school impresses us with their variety of extracurricular activities, Highly Performing status, "Failure is Not an Option" motto and efforts to obtain high-tech materials to bring their students to new levels of understanding. Cortez's video declares their school is no longer going to be kept under wraps. They won the popular vote on Bookmans Facebook page, which automatically qualified them for the finals. The Bookmans team visited with the Cortez community to see first-hand the campus, in the classrooms and into the hearts of school family that continues to prove they are worth a closer look.

Cortez caught our attention because of their student involvement, the dedication of their entire staff, creative methods to keep students interested in learning while maintaining "accountability" in the face of a challenging demographic, lack of funding and negative stereotypes. Cortez will receive $15,000 to support their goal to update and fill out their sparse library and for new recording and editing equipment. The school plans to create informative PSAs about everything from book trailers to how to prevent bullying. The equipment will help in developing morning announcements and a media club/class. The books will complement core curricular areas as well as supplement a "hot titles" section to engage students in reading for fun.

Cortez is a prime example of how schools fight for any and everything that empowers students. It is refreshing to know that there are schools like Cortez who blow expectations out of the water by acknowledging their intrinsic value. We're expecting more great things from the Colts!

We chose Manzo Elementary as a $3,000 School Challenge winner for their exemplary commitment to their community, inspiring educational techniques, and the staff and families' dedication to the success of their students. Manzo Elementary represents Bookmans core values through the unique ecology focus they integrate into core curriculum as well as supporting other areas of student development such as counseling services. Students and staff engage in philanthropic endeavors including community beautification projects, donating to and educating neighborhood families about sustainable living practices and English classes for Spanish speaking parents. Manzo's innovation and creativity in navigating obstacles to increased performing status and their commitment to a positive educational structure that ignites a child's imagination deserves accolades.

It feels wonderful to award Flagstaff Arts and Leadership Academy $3,000 to use towards their goals of increased visibility of their fine and performing arts projects, student mentorship of elementary students and staff development. Their written application, student-made video and our site visit assures us of the school's service to their students, the arts and the Flagstaff community. FALA impresses us with the intelligence, creativity and kindness of their students (many of whom we could have mistaken as college students), the dedication and creativity of their teachers, and the impressive way their students perform in traditional academics, on state tests, and in the gallery or on the stage.

We wish we had unlimited resources to give the top prize to all the schools in Arizona who are going above and beyond, often on their own time and dime, for their exceptional students. We have enjoyed this process and hearing from all the schools who applied to enter the Bookmans School Challenge. You haven't heard the last from some of them (and they will hear from us). We expect to see new and familiar schools next year as we continue to look for the good news in Arizona's publicly funded schools.