State Superintendent of Schools Nancy S. Grasmick and Comcast today announced the 24 semifinalists for the 2010 Comcast Parent Involvement Matters Awards.

A collaboration between Comcast and the Maryland State Department of Education, the Comcast Parent Involvement Matters Awards is the nation’s first statewide initiative of its kind, recognizing parents and legal guardians for their exceptional support of public education. Parents are nominated for demonstrating significant, positive impact in their education communities.

The 2010 Comcast Parent Involvement Matters Awards will be presented in a special celebration on Thursday, May 6 at Loch Raven High School in Towson. Five finalists and a statewide winner, selected from the 24 semifinalists named today, will be announced at the award ceremony.

“Even in the third year of this award, I am completely in awe of what parents across our state are capable of achieving within schools and the school system. And we, as a Department, have greatly benefited from the innovative and inspiring work these parents are doing,” said Dr. Grasmick. “This could only have happened through our partnership with Comcast.”

“Comcast is committed to our local communities and to supporting strong and enriching initiatives in education,” said Fred Graffam, regional senior vice president for Comcast. “Parents play an instrumental role in our schools, and we’re proud to work with the Maryland State Department of Education to recognize them for all they do to advance public education on a day to day basis.”

The Comcast Parent Involvement Matters Awards program recognizes parents from local school systems across the state of Maryland, nominated for their contribution in one or more of the five areas of parental involvement: Communication, Volunteering, Learning, Decision Making, and Community Collaboration.

Many of the past two years’ semifinalists have become parent involvement advocates on the statewide level, serving as members of task forces, presenters at statewide meetings, and participants in education events, including Bobby Wells, Somerset County 2009 semifinalist, who was appointed to the Somerset Board of Education by Governor Martin O’Malley. Mr. Wells attributes his recognition as a Comcast Parent Matters Award winner as key to his appointment.

2010 Comcast Parent Involvement Matters Awards Semifinalists