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Tampa Student's Winning Essay Brings Visit By Bucs

News Channel 8 photo by PAUL LAMISON

Bucs players Luke McCown and Tanard Jackson join West Tampa Elementary fifth grader Roselyn Martinez who wrote the winning essay on "My Winning Moment."

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By JOSÉ PATIÑO GIRONA | The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 23, 2009

TAMPA - Roselyn Martinez sat front and center with a wide grin. She had Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Luke McCown on one side of her and free safety Tanard Jackson on the other.

By the end of their meeting this morning, the West Tampa Elementary School fifth-grader's T-shirt had autographs from the two football players.

McCown and Jackson visited Martinez's class because her essay was among the 10 Hillsborough County winners in a contest sponsored by the NFL Players, the marketing arm of the NFL Players Association. The contest is for fifth-graders in the Super Bowl host city; the title of the essay is My Winning Moment.

Martinez's essay focused on teaching her mother English. Maria Martinez, of West Tampa, is a native of Cuba.

Roselyn, 12, said learning the language would help her mother at work and in completing bank transactions.

She said she was overwhelmed by the award and meeting the Bucs players.

"It was extremely fantastic," said Roselyn, who wants to write children's books. "It was an exciting moment. They are really exciting people because of their profession and what they do."

The overall winning essay was written by Shayla Lewkowiez of Northwest Elementary School in Tampa. She will get to interview players during Super Bowl week and write stories for the Weekly Reader and NFLPlayers.com, said Lara Potter, NFL Players assistant vice president for communications.

In Martinez's class, the students asked McCown and Jackson about playing football, their hobbies and what they enjoy reading.

Both players said they enjoy reaching out to students and letting them see the importance of an education.

"It is fantastic for us," McCown said. "I get the joy of seeing the excitement in their faces."

Martinez's teacher, Cheryl Metcalf, said the experience helps motivate students.

"I think it is very encouraging for their writing," Metcalf said.

Reporter José Patiño Girona can be reached at (813) 259-7659 or jpatino@tampatrib.com.

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