Students honor Nobel winner with more than 20,000 cards

PLAINS - About 300 students from 15 area schools attended a surprise ceremony Friday to honor Jimmy Carter for winning the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize and to present him with more than 20,000 congratulatory cards made by students around the state. <br> <br> The students greeted Carter at his old high school, which is now a part of the Jimmy Carter Historic Site. The old brick school features displays that highlight the life of the nation&#39;s 39th president. <br> <br> Ranger Mark Rockwell of the National Park Service said the cards were hung throughout the building, on almost every vertical surface. <br> <br> Rockwell said, ``They look good. We&#39;ve got a big banner and a couple of the cards have been blown up.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> The banner read, ``Congratulations President Carter, 2002 Nobel Peace Prize.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> During the ceremony, students from Schley County High School gave a reading and Carter made remarks. <br> <br> The 78-year-old Carter won the Nobel in September for his effort to peacefully solve international conflicts and to advance democracy and human rights. The prize came with an extraordinary rebuke aimed at Bush by the Norwegian Nobel Committee, which contrasted Carter&#39;s efforts at creating Mideast peace through diplomacy against Bush&#39;s vow to oust Iraq&#39;s Saddam Hussein by force if necessary.