SPARKS, Md., May 04, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) --McCormick & Company, Inc. (NYSE: MKC) today announced that Jessica Kikola, a member of the Patapsco High School basketball team, and Joshua Melton, a member of the Dunbar High football team, were presented the 70th annual McCormick Unsung Heroes Awards yesterday at Marriott's Hunt Valley Inn.

As winners of the top Unsung Heroes Awards, Jones and Haines became the 64^nd and 65^rd recipients of the Charles Perry McCormick Scholarship Awards, established in 1969, with a current four-year value of $36,000 for each student-athlete.

The scholarship winners were chosen from a total of 116 candidates who were the Unsung Heroes representatives from 73 Baltimore area public, private, parochial and independent schools. Kikola and Melton are seniors, a requirement of the program.

Jessica Kikola's coach at Patapsco had never seen any student-athlete display Jessica's level of team spirit and hustle. "She became the heart and soul of the team, by doing the little things that rarely get noticed," her coach said. She was often asked to rotate to less familiar positions on the court, played hurt and also devoted time to help a younger player learn plays knowing the younger, more talented player would eventually take some of her playing minutes. As her coach said, "Jessica's contributions came in intangible ways that can't be recorded in a scorebook."

Joshua Melton was asked to forego his own hopes of being a fullback or linebacker and instead be a lineman, both offensive and defensive. At 5 foot 7, he often looked up at opposing players. But he had great strength to move those rivals and make way for some of the highest producing running backs in the state. Those running backs made those yards and scored those TDs because of Justin's hard, unglamorous work.

The late Charles P. McCormick founded the McCormick Unsung Heroes program in 1940 to recognize athletes for unselfish team play and highlight the efforts of those who contribute to the success of their teams without acclaim.

John Harbaugh, Head Coach of the Baltimore Ravens, delivered the keynote address.

More than 750 Baltimore area officials, school administrators, coaches and family members attended the event.

About McCormick

McCormick & Company, Incorporated (www.mccormickcorporation.com) is a global leader in the manufacture, marketing and distribution of spices, seasonings, specialty foods and flavors to the entire food industry.

SOURCE: McCormick & Company, Inc.

McCormick & Company, Inc.
Jim Lynn, 410-771-7803
Jim_Lynn@mccormick.com