Three Thompson Intermediate School students helped raise $3,000 for the school during a recent UAB education program.

The students participated in UAB’s Books for Baskets program, which consisted of an essay competition and a basketball-shooting contest.

Thompson Intermediate School student Lauren Phillips won the essay contest after entering a story explaining why her favorite sport is softball, and earned $500 for the school’s library.

Students Tavarus Hall, Lauren Black and Kahyanne Bolton also participated in the program’s basketball-shooting contest Jan. 9, winning a total of $2,500 for the library. All money the students won will be used to purchase books, said Thompson Intermediate School fifth-grade teacher Sabrina Lynch.

“All in all, UAB gave our school and students a great opportunity, and we really appreciate working with them,” Lynch wrote in an e-mail.

Lynch, school Librarian Heather Kirk and physical education teacher Cameshia Pete helped the students enter and prepare for the competitions.