A random drawing at Hy-Vee, 4000 W. Sixth St., made Deerfield School $5,000 richer and provided a third-grader with a new Mac laptop.

Hy-Vee’s Smiles for Education program rewards 10 schools a week in the seven states where the grocery chain operates with a $5,000 check and a laptop computer, provided by the Sara Lee Corporation.

Deerfield third-grader Elise Gard received the laptop computer, after her mother nominated Elise and her school in the Smiles for Education program. The nomination was randomly chosen last week, after Hy-Vee elected that Lawrence store to be one of 10 stores to participate in last week’s contest; the program lasts for 10 weeks a year.

Deerfield Principal Joni Appleman said her school also won the prize three years ago, and used the funds to provide after-school tutoring for children.

“It’s great that we got this money, because I think we’ll be able to continue the after-school help for the kids,” she said, noting that no decision has been made on how to spend this year’s prize. “It’s just nice to have that extra money for some of our kids who really need it.”