<p>Hermiston Office Max representatives presented McNary Heights Elementary second-grade teacher Molly Hottman with the "A Day Made Better" award on Tuesday. From left: OffieMax service representative Kathy Lowe, assistant store manager Lynette Barthel, store manager Brian Varker, Hottman, OfficeMax impress supervisor Annette Souza and MHES principal Bob Lorence.</p>

Molly Hottmans Tuesday didnt turn out how she planned: it was better.

The McNary Heights Elementary second-grade teacher was surprised with this years A Day Made Better award from the Hermiston OfficeMax.

Im completely shocked, a wide-eyed Hottman said Wednesday. Ive never won anything like this before. Its amazing. Some of the students dont have school supplies, so its going to be really nice to have something for everyone.

One thousand teachers across the country were each honored with the award and $1,000 worth of school supplies for their classrooms on Tuesday. Now in its sixth year, A Day Made Better was started by OfficeMax to provide relief and support for teachers nationwide who spend their own money on much-needed classroom supplies.

According to the company, more than 90 percent of teachers spend their own money on basic school supplies for their students. In addition to the $1,000 item box for the teacher, items donated by OfficeMax customers and business clients are donated to the school in which the winning teacher works.

An OfficeMax press release said almost $900,000 worth of additional supplies was donated to schools across the country this year.

At McNary Heights, a large orange box of donated supplies included notebooks and printer paper, pens, pencils, erasers and folders. The Hermiston store also pitched in a number of other miscellaneous items that had been returned to the store but not damaged. Officials said those items can be used in the school or in school auctions to raise funds.

McNary Heights Principal Bob Lorence nominated Hottman for the honor.

When you pick a teacher out of a lot of good teachers, you want to pick someone who has impacted the school, he said, pointing to a writing program Hottman brought to the McNary campus as a primary reason she was nominated. She has definitely made an impact.

Hottman has worked for McNary Heights for seven years.