April 16, 2012 at 9:31 AM EDT

McCormick Announces 72nd Annual Unsung Heroes Awards Banquet

CBS Correspondent Byron Pitts to address student athletes

SPARKS, Md., Apr 16, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) --McCormick & Company, Incorporated (NYSE: MKC), a global leader in flavor, today announced that Byron Pitts, prominent correspondent for CBS News and "60 Minutes" will deliver the keynote address at the 72nd Annual McCormick Unsung Heroes Award Banquet to be held on Monday, May 7 at the Marriott Hunt Valley Inn.

The banquet will salute deserving male football players and female basketball players. A total of 112 high school senior boys and girls from 68 Baltimore area public, private, parochial and independent schools have been nominated. As the top Unsung Heroes for 2012, two of the honorees, one male and one female winner, will receive the 2012 Charles Perry McCormick Scholarship, valued at $36,000 over four academic years.

Originally established in 1940 by former CEO Charles P. McCormick, the program recognizes unselfish team play and honors those who contribute substantially to the success of their teams without receiving acclaim. The program is reflective of McCormick's core belief in The Power of People.

More than 700 city and county officials, school administrators, coaches and family are expected to attend this year's event.

Byron Pitts will bring an inspiring message to the audience. Despite being deemed functionally illiterate until the age of 12 and having a chronic stutter until the age of 20, Baltimore-born Pitts is an author as well as an award-winning TV journalist. His success and achievements have come as the result of hard work and dedication, as Pitts has overcome the obstacles and challenges that life has thrown his way. He has documented his inspirational life journey in his book "Step Out on Nothing."

The 2012 Unsung Heroes Award Nominees

SCHOOL BASKETBALL FOOTBALL
Archbishop Curley High School -- Robert Przybylski, III
Archbishop Spalding High School Abigail Ritinski Braden Grimes
Baltimore City College High School Tyla Bates Edward Taylor
Baltimore Lutheran School Margaret Paules Scott Sweigart
Baltimore Polytechnic Institute Jillian Lee Orville Keize
The Boys' Latin School of Maryland -- Eric Simmons
The Bryn Mawr School Nancy Dunbar --
Calvert Hall College High School -- Jamal Goodman
Carver Center for Arts and Technology Essence Fredericks --
Carver Vo-Tech High School Breiona Garrison Darein Cheek
The Catholic High School of Baltimore Allison Antonio --
Catonsville High School Heather Kendrick Jonathan Reymann
Chesapeake High School Ajee McNeil Doug Jones
Digital Harbor High School Antwanye Parks Dwon Bess
Dulaney High School Amy Bowden Robert Hylton
Dunbar High School Sierra Johnson Joshua Davis
Dundalk High School -- Sean Miskimon
Eastern Technical High School Ashley Felts Kyle Bosserman
Edmondson-Westside High School Destiney Talley Lawrence Jackson
Forest Park High School Masha Garner Darnell Alexander
Franklin High School Kim Dorsey Sean Myers
Frederick Douglass High School Roniqua Mayo Tyrone Stinnette
Friends School of Baltimore Caroline Stanley Declan Meagher
Garrison Forest School Ali Flax --
Gilman School -- Charles Cross
Hereford High School Alyssa Gianotti Christopher Vaillancourt
Institute of Notre Dame Kayla Kelly --
The John Carroll School Talia Kahoe Luke Navin
Kenwood High School Denesha Tatum Ronald Burnes
Lake Clifton High School Nyzia Nichols Shawn Wilder
Lansdowne High School Sera Stull Robert Smith, Jr.
Loch Raven High School Kelly Bilz Ryne Schanberger
Loyola Blakefield -- Nicholas Holthaus
Maritime Industries Academy -- Rykiem Young
Maryvale Preparatory School Meghan Hildreth --
McDonogh School Marin Kobb Garrett Breeden
Mercy High School Shannon Aikens --
Mergenthaler Vo-Tech High School Kiara Johnson Maleek Mayo
Milford Mill Academy Jasmine Aguon-Rayford Ronald Christian
Mount de Sales Academy Kara Hand --
Mount Saint Joseph High School -- James Winfield
New Town High School Jacquynn Churchill Ahmir Lynch
Northwestern High School Aquira Herring Randolph Taylor
Notre Dame Preparatory School Sarah Kasun --
Our Lady of Mount Carmel -- Ben Lesane, Jr.
Overlea High School Samaria Amaker Alexander Ajanaku-Wells
Owings Mills High School Danielle McIntosh Marquese Butler
Parkville High School Meaghan Carr Nolin Shacklett
Patapsco High School Miranda Vargas Donovan Brubach
Patterson High School Michelle Bessicks Roderick Greene
Perry Hall High School Taylor Gosnell Jimmy Reed
Pikesville High School Breana Chase Jumul Noble, Jr.
Randallstown High School Cearra Tabb Donte Carter
Reginald F. Lewis High School Breyonna Belton Jamal Williamson
Roland Park Country School Christa Reese --
Seton Keough High School Kahla McCormick --
Severn School Sally Belasco Brian Bieman
Southwestern High School Kanisha Dailey Daniel Johnson
Sparrows Point High School Miranda Rudacille Richie Rehak
St. Mary's High School Delia Ruttum Dan Nowicki
St. Paul's School -- William Ensor
St. Paul's School for Girls Sydney Keough --
St. Timothy's School Julia Cueto-Puente --
Towson High School DeNora Murray William Hegarty
W.E.B. DuBois High School Jessica Jackson Chaka McFail
Western High School Tierra Taylor --
Western School of Technology & Env. Science Geraldine Ezeka Malik Carver
Woodlawn High School Imani Carter Kamonte Hooker

About McCormick

McCormick & Company, Incorporated is a global leader in flavor. With more than $3.5 billion in annual sales, the company manufactures, markets and distributes spices, seasoning mixes, condiments and other flavorful products to the entire food industry - retail outlets, food manufacturers and foodservice businesses.

Every day, no matter where or what you eat, you can enjoy food flavored by McCormick. McCormick Brings Passion to Flavor(TM).

To learn more please visit us at www.mccormickcorporation.com.

SOURCE: McCormick & Company, Incorporated

McCormick & Company, Incorporated
Corporate Communications:
Jim Lynn (410) 771-7803 or jim_lynn@mccormick.com