Bushes, Jordin Sparks Kickoff Super Bowl Initiative

By STACY MORROW

Updated 5:44 PM CDT, Mon, Sep 21, 2009

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Six-hundred North Texas students filled the Cowboys Stadium Monday as Former President George W. Bush, Mrs. Laura Bush and Jordin Sparks joined organizers of the 2011 Super Bowl in announcing a new education initiative.

The community service project, called Service Learning Adventures in North Texas, or "SLANT 45," is named after a key play the Dallas Cowboys used to win championships in the 1990s.

Starting early next year, the initiative will strive to involve more than 20,000 students in third through fifth grades in an attempt to log at least 45,000 combined hours of community service.

The Bushes are honorary co-chairs of the North Texas Super Bowl XLV's educational program and Sparks is the program spokesperson.

Quarterback Troy Aikman, running back Emmitt Smith and fullback Daryl Johnston also attended the announcement. They were key parts of the running play "Slant 45" that helped the Cowboys win three Super Bowls in four seasons.

Students from the Arlington Independent School District were originally scheduled to be bussed to the event, but Superintendent Jerry McCullough changed his mind after his decision to not show President Barrack Obama's speech live raised questions of a double standard.