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- Local Students Invited to Nominate Educators for MTA Award; Enter Drawing for Red Sox Tickets -

WORCESTER, Mass., April 28 /PRNewswire/ -- This summer, students in grades nine through twelve from across the Commonwealth can write their way to Fenway Park through The Massachusetts Teachers Association's Most Valuable Educator program, presented by The Hanover Insurance Group Foundation, Inc.

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Designed to encourage essay-writing, the Most Valuable Educator program invites students in grades nine through twelve to nominateteachers, librarians and coaches for special recognition. Winning educators are selected from all nominations and are invited to participate in a pre-game recognition ceremony at Fenway Park during the summer. Both the winning teachers and the students who nominate them receive a pair of tickets for a Red Sox Game.

To kick-off the program, Adam Thomas, Tom Kelliher, John Long and Jeff Tribou from the Lawrence Middle School in Falmouth were honored over the weekend during a Red Sox/Yankees game at Fenway Park. The four Social Studies teachers were named All Star Educators for performing a heroic rescue last month when they were traveling on Route 28 in Bourne. The group spotted a smoking SUV on the side of the road with flames coming out of the engine compartment and quickly sprang into action, pulling an unconscious man from the vehicle just seconds before the passenger compartment was engulfed in flames. Their actions, along with the help of other good Samaritans who stopped to help and administer first aid, are being credited with saving the man's life.

"A big part of our mission is to help youth realize their full potential," said Linda McGowan, president of The Hanover Insurance Group Foundation. "Quality educators are a critical component to making our vision a reality. With that in mind, we are excited to be a part of this program and to be able to help honor teachers who really make an impact in the classroom. At the same time, we are very pleased to encourage students to be proactive and exercise their writing skills to recognize a teacher who has made a difference in their lives."

"We are eager to highlight and celebrate the important work of great educators," said Anne Wass, President of the Massachusetts Teachers Association. "Recognition programs like this give educators a renewed sense of pride and will inspire them to work even harder for their students."

Students can learn more about the program and how to enter at www.readingmatters.org.

About The Hanover Insurance Group Foundation

The mission of The Hanover Insurance Group Foundation, Inc. is to improve the quality of life in communities where The Hanover Insurance Group companies have a major presence, placing a special emphasis on helping to build world class public education systems and inspiring and empowering youth to achieve their full potential.

The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. (NYSE: THG), based in Worcester, Mass., is a leading provider of auto, home and business insurance in Massachusetts.

The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. is the holding company for a group of insurers that includes The Hanover Insurance Company, also based in Worcester; Citizens Insurance Company of America, headquartered in Howell, Mich., and their affiliates. The Hanover offers a wide range of property and casualty products and services to individuals, families and businesses through an extensive network of independent agents, and has been meeting its obligations to its agent partners and their customers for more than 150 years. Taken as a group, The Hanover ranks among the top 40 property and casualty insurers in the United States. For more information, please visit www.hanover.com.

    CONTACTS:
    The Hanover Insurance Group                The MTA
    Amy Lynn Banek                             Bob Duffy
    (508) 855-4486                             (617) 878-8266
    [email protected]                         [email protected]

SOURCE The Hanover Insurance Group Foundation, Inc.