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Thirteen students throughout North America recognized

ORLANDO, Fla. – “Teaching Day,” an imaginative holiday created by first grade student Lindsey Fridrich of Omaha, Neb., was selected by judges as the grand prize winning entry in the 11th-annual Olive Garden Pasta Tales national essay writing contest.

Fridrich’s essay was chosen from more than 10,600 entries written by students in first through 12th grade who were asked “If you could create a new holiday, what would you name it and how would it be celebrated?”

In her essay, Fridrich describes “Teaching Day” as a day where all people help their neighbors and friends learn new things.  “I think this day is important because it makes you feel good when you help other people.  This day would be celebrated on August 27 because it was Mother Teresa’s birthday and she taught other people, especially the poor,” Fridrich wrote.  “We all know something we can teach someone else.  We just need to take time to share with others.”

Fridrich’s essay was “a well-written, novel concept and topic that expressed a genuine concern for others with a childlike positive outlook on life,” noted one of the judges from the Quill and Scroll Society of the College of Journalism and Communications at the University of Iowa who read the essays.

As the Pasta Tales grand prize winner, Fridrich receives a $2,500 savings bond, a trip with her family to New York City and dinner at the Olive Garden in Times Square.

Olive Garden also announced a winner in each of 12 grade categories. These winners each receive a $500 U.S. Savings Bond and dinner with their family at their local Olive Garden:

Grade 1: Bethan Denney, Colorado, “Music Day”
Grade 2: Rebecca Venable, Florida, “Freedom Day”
Grade 3: Dylan Janney, Florida, “Ride a Bike Day”
Grade 4: Victoria Solomon-Duda, Alberta, Canada, “Forever Day”
Grade 5: Nora Faris, Missouri, “National Music Day”
Grade 6: Adam Nuest, Ohio, “National Police Officer Day”
Grade 7: Sarah Hamel, Florida, “National Day of the Arts”
Grade 8: Merrill Mow, Pennsylvania, “Hibernation Day”
Grade 9: Brooke Stewart, Florida, “Unsung Hero Day”
Grade 10: Brock Vial, Wisconsin, “The Day of Reflection”
Grade 11: Briana Whitehouse, Arizona, “Let Freedom Ring Day”
Grade 12: Barbara May, Texas, “Volunteer Day”

“Lindsey’s essay displays inventive thinking and most importantly, a true concern for the betterment of all people,” said Steve Coe, spokesperson for Olive Garden. This year, these young writers exceeded our expectations with their creative holiday suggestions. We applaud their efforts and talent.”

Olive Garden’s Pasta Tales is designed to encourage young writers to express themselves and improve their writing skills. Entries were judged on creativity, adherence to theme, organization, grammar, punctuation and spelling by Olive Garden and the Quill and Scroll Society at the University of Iowa.

The question for the 2008 Pasta Tales essay contest will be announced in August. Entry forms and complete rules will be available at local Olive Garden restaurants and online at www.olivegarden.com/company/community/pasta_tales.asp from Oct. 1 through Nov. 30.

Olive Garden is the leading restaurant in the Italian dining segment with 603 restaurants, 77,000 employees and more than $2 billion in annual sales. Olive Garden is a division of Darden Restaurants Inc. (NYSE:DRI), the world’s largest casual dining company in sales and market share.

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