"Zebra Sponsors Take Vince Carter To School Day"

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – Brooklyn 5th-grade student Alexander Garcia took Nets star Vince Carter to school today. Ten-year old Alexander, who lives in the neighborhood of Sunset Park, was picked up at his apartment by Carter at 8 a.m. and driven in a limousine to P.S. 282 in Park Slope. 

Alexander received this memorable experience thanks to his mother, Evelyn Rivera, who entered Alexander in the second annual "Take-a-Net to School" contest, sponsored by Zebra Pen.

Carter, a seven-time NBA All-Star, rang Alexander’s doorbell and gave the fifth-grader a red Nets jersey adorned with Carter’s No. 15. Carter spent time with Alexander and his mother in the family’s second-floor apartment, before they posed for photos outside on the stoop.

After their 20-minute ride to the school, Carter and Alexander were met by the cheering 700-member student body in the gymnasium where Carter presented a framed No. 15 jersey to the school and spoke to the students. Afterward, Carter walked Alexander to his first-period class, giving high-fives to the students who were lined along the corridors.

The Nets star and Alexander sat together in the classroom as Carter spoke with the kids.

Alexander and all of his schoolmates received gift bags from Zebra Pen, as well as Nets t-shirts. Alexander and his mother will also be guests at a Nets game this season.

"I am really impressed with all the excitement,” said Carter. “School helped me get to where I am today because there is nothing more important than education!”

“This is a once in a lifetime opportunity,” Alexander said. “I’m a Nets fan.”

Alexander added that taking Vince to school will make him very popular with his schoolmates.