Award Ceremony for "Connecting Heroes" essay contest

CHICAGO, September 27, 1999 – 3Com Corporation (NASDAQ:COMS), an innovative Internet access and networking company, and Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry, are pleased to announce the winners of the 3Com "Connecting Heroes" Essay Contest and welcome home their own special hero, Captain Bill Pinkney.

The essay contest, which ran from April to September of this year, was created in conjunction with the 3Com-sponsored Museum exhibit entitled "Winds of Change: Africa, America and the Sea." The exhibit allowed school children to learn first-hand the incredible commitment and dedication behind the success of Chicago seaman Captain William "Bill" Pinkney. Through the exhibit and the essay contest, students also had the opportunity to learn the Captain’s hero-making philosophy: that with a sound education, a desire to succeed and the courage to follow a dream, they too could become heroes.

Now that Captain Pinkney has completed his journey, he has returned to Chicago to help the Museum of Science and Industry and 3Com recognize the winning students at an award ceremony scheduled in the Museum’s Rotunda for 10:30 a.m., Sept. 30, 1999. In honor of this special event, Mayor Richard M. Daley has proclaimed it "3Com Connecting Heroes" day in Chicago.

"Connecting Heroes" Contest Winners

"We’re thrilled with the response that was generated through the Museum’s ‘Winds of Change’ exhibit and 3Com’s Connecting Heroes program," said David Mosena, president and CEO of the Museum of Science and Industry. "The Museum introduces school children to science on a daily basis and we’re pleased that we were able to use science and technology to follow and communicate with Captain Pinkney during his journey."

"Through the Connecting Heroes Program, 3Com has helped educate students on the importance of connecting with the heroes of their daily life," said Jerry Devlin, 3Com vice president and general manager of 3Com’s Personal Communications Division. "And with today’s expanding Internet technology, these students are learning that this connection can take place anytime, anywhere."

Geared for children in 4th through 12th grades, the Connecting Heroes Essay Contest asked students to write essays explaining who their hero is and how the student is able to connect with this person in his or her daily life. The essays, which were judged by representatives of the Chicago Public Schools, were critiqued on originality, creativity, organizational structure, clarity, neatness, legibility, spelling and grammar. The essays were divided into three grade categories (4th-6th, 7th-8th and 9th-12th grades) and one grand-prize winner and five honorable mention winners were selected from each category. The winners are:

4th –6th Grade

Grand-Prize Winner: Christopher Chinske, St. Christopher School

Honorable Mentions: Joshlean Fair, Turner Drew Language Academy
Geoffrey Gawne, Edison School
Claire Miller, St. Christina School
Michael Pershan, Hillel Torah
Jackie Reitz, St. Christina School

7th-8th Grade

Grand-Prize Winner: Alexandria Rantisi, St. Monica School

Honorable Mentions: Michael Bogdan, St. Monica School
Michelle Farrior, G. R. Clark School
Mary Filpi, St. Monica School
Ruchira Gupta, Lasalle Language Academy
Kalyn Varnes, St. Monica School

9th-12th Grade

Grand-Prize Winner: Prakash Rao, Downers Grove High School

Honorable Mentions: Matthew Baker, William Howard Taft High School
Hina Jalali, Mather High School
Jennifer Harmon, Whitney Young High School
(tie) Joseph Sapp, University of Illinois Laboratory School
(tie) Carlyn Satkus, Homewood Flossmoor High School
(tie) Helen Wong, Whitney Young Magnet School

Each grand-prize winner will receive a home computer system complete with 3Com“ personal Internet access products. All of the honorable mention winners will receive a Targus backpack from 3Com Corporation. Winning entries will be posted on the 3Com "Connecting Heroes" web site (www.connectingheroes.com) and may also be posted on-site at the Museum.