Youngster collects a million pennies for school

Ten-year-old Andrew Niemi has been saving the change since Christmas '06

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updated 4:09 a.m. ET May 11, 2008

CARLETON, Mich. - A Michigan school has a million thanks to give to a fourth-grader.

Ten-year-old Andrew Niemi of Carleton has been collecting pennies since a day after Christmas in 2006. He held fundraisers to reach his goal of 1 million. Niemi finally picked up his last cent in March.

Last week, Niemi presented a $10,000 check to St. Patrick Catholic School.

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His mother, Connie Niemi, says the money will go toward equipment, including audiovisual hardware, two large classroom maps and a concrete bench for the peace garden.