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™.

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

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