North Rock Creek was honored as the first school in the country to receive the prestigious Patriotic School of the Year award. This accolade, presented by Master Chief Larry Van Schuyver on behalf of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, honors the school’s exceptional commitmenttosupporting veterans through various initiatives, including a significant canned food drive.
The award recognizes the efforts by students, staff, and parents at North Rock Creek School. Their campaign resulted in gathering more than five truckloads of canned goods to aid Oklahoma veterans.
This gesture of goodwill not only underscores the community’s respect and support for those who have served but also sets a remarkable precedent for schools nationwide in terms of veteran outreach.
Two individuals were particularly recognized for their roles in spearheading these efforts.
Ashlynn Jones, a member of the North Rock Creek School support staff, was honored as a Purple Rose Lady for her instrumental role in organizing the food drive and for offering personal funds as a cash incentive for the most contributions.
At South Rock Creek School, which was named the second school in the nation for this honor, kindergarten teacher Robbi Merrell was lauded as the Purple Heart Rose Lady.
Her class alone contributed more than 300 cans, demonstrating the impactful role educators can play in nurturing a sense of community and civic responsibility among young learners.