STRAIGHT-A STUDENTS GET FREE GAME TICKETS

Straight-A students at area high schools will be treated to a Cardinals baseball game at Busch Stadium thanks to area businesses.

More than 1,500 tickets have been dispensed this year, two per straight A student. Last year, about 1,200 tickets were given out, said Dennis Marchi with Schnucks Food and Drug. Schnucks, the Southeast Missourian newspaper and KZIM radio sponsor the Straight A ticket program locally.

Baseball tickets are given to straight A students in Cape Girardeau County and northern Scott County.

The tickets reward students for doing a good job in school and encourage other students to do better. The motivation seems to be working, Marchi said, because the number of students involved is higher this year than last.

This year's game pits the Cardinals against the Dodgers on June 21 at 12:35 p.m. It promises to be a good baseball match-up, Marchi said.

"We get a lot of positive response from the community, the schools, the students and the parents," he said. "It's a neat deal."