WHEREAS, John C. Myers Elementary School in Rockingham County received the prestigious Program Excellence Award from the International Technology and Engineering Educator Association in 2018; and

WHEREAS, the Program Excellence Award is among the highest honors given to technology and engineering classroom programs at the elementary school level; John C. Myers Elementary School was one of only 39 programs worldwide to receive the award; and

WHEREAS, John C. Myers Elementary School combines an academically rigorous curriculum with hands-on learning through its Children's Engineering (Elementary Design Technology) program in the school's state-of-the-art science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) lab, Jake's Nest; and

WHEREAS, the Jake's Nest lab has provided unique learning opportunities to students with the support of principal Rebecca Roadcap, assistant principal Tammy May, and challenge teacher Bobbi Arbogast, as well as several other faculty and staff members; and

WHEREAS, through the Children's Engineering program, John C. Myers Elementary School students have developed communication, collaboration, creativity, and problem-solving skills; participants have also partnered with younger students through STEM Buddies and involved their families in the learning process on Family STEAM Nights; and

WHEREAS, the Program Excellence Award is a testament to the exceptional commitment and hard work of the teachers and students at John C. Myers Elementary School; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, That John C. Myers Elementary School hereby be commended on receiving a 2018 Program Excellence Award for its STEM programs; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to John C. Myers Elementary School as an expression of the House of Delegates' admiration for the school's work to create unique learning opportunities for Rockingham County students.