PISTONS, ROCK & SHOCK ANNOUNCE SECOND ANNUAL BLACK HISTORY MONTH TOUR
Pistons Legend Rick Mahorn to Headline Five-Stop Tour in February Giving Out $6,000 in Scholarships
Auburn Hills, MI — The Detroit Pistons, the Detroit Shock and Rock Financial, for the second consecutive year, will launch a five-stop tour that will encourage students in southeast Michigan to know their local black history, and give them an opportunity to win $1,000 in college scholarship money.
Pistons legend and Detroit Shock Assistant Coach Rick Mahorn will headline the tour and will be joined at selected locations by personalities, including current and former Detroit Pistons players such as Chris Webber and John Long, and Detroit Shock player Elaine Powell. Other distinguished figures will make appearances along the way, including former Detroit Lions player Lem Barney, members of the Tuskegee Airmen, Dennis Archer, Jr., WJLB's Dr. Darrius and My TV20's Sharon McClendon.
The tour will tip-off at 10 a.m. on February 1 at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History. Students from Detroit high schools Mumford, Northwestern, Pershing, Renaissance and Cody will tour the museum and the "And Still We Rise" exhibit.
Following the February 1 launch event, Black History Tour stops include: Arts Academy in the Woods (Fraser) on February 7, Southfield Lathrup High School on February 9, Pontiac Northern High School on February 13 and Genesys Hospital in Flint on February 15 (Flint area schools will attend).
"It is very important for kids to know their history," said Mahorn. "Last year's tour engaged students to learn, and also provided a solid opportunity for the future of those who won the scholarship money. We hope to see the same positive response from students this year."
"Rock Financial is strongly committed to our community, and we are proud to be a part of this event which celebrates black history, and promotes diversity and understanding," said Rock Financial's Regional Vice President Stephen Piazza.
At each school's Black History Tour assembly, five pre-selected students will compete in a three-minute oral competition. The distinguished guests will judge the competition, selecting one winner from each tour stop. Each winner will receive a $1,000 scholarship for higher education, from of Rock Financial. The runners-up will receive a $250 Visa Check gift card courtesy of Rock Financial and the Pistons-Palace Foundation.
High school students from around the State of Michigan will also have an opportunity to compete for one $1,000 scholarship in conjunction with this tour. Students can apply on-line at www.pistons.com or www.rockfinancial.com starting February 1. Pistons media partner My TV20 will also help promote the statewide online competition via television spots and their Web site. On Wednesday, February 21, all scholarship winners will be honored by Mahorn, Hall and Rock Financial President Pat McInnis on-court at halftime of the Pistons game against Orlando.
About Rock Financial. Rock Financial is a Quicken Loans company. Quicken Loans Inc. consists of Quicken Loans, the nation's largest online lender and Rock Financial, Michigan's largest mortgage company. Employing more than 4,000 people, the company has been ranked in the "Top 20" of FORTUNE Magazine's "100 Best Companies to Work for in America" list for four consecutive years, and #1 on Computerworld's list of "100 Best Places to Work in Technology" for the past two years. Visit www.RockFinancial.com for more information. For more information about a career with Rock Financial or Quicken Loans, visit www.QuickenLoansCareers.com.
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