PICTURE ROCKS — Prideful shouts of “Ferrell Elementary,” could be heard in the crowd Friday after the school, in East Lycoming School District, was notified it was awarded a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence Award presented by the U.S. Department of Education.

Created in 1982 to honor schools that have achieved high levels of student achievement or made significant improvements in closing the achievement gap, the Blue Ribbon award is given mostly to schools nominated in any state that serves student populations of at least 40 percent from disadvantaged backgrounds.

“You’ve worked hard every day and helped each other out,” said Principal Jill Warg, as parents and grandparents applauded. In addition to her role at George A. Ferrell Elementary School, Warg also serves as principal at Carl G. Renn Elementary School, which also received the award in the past.

The students were gathered in front of the brick school, which is nestled near the tree-lined Van Rennselaer Park.

It was a perfect day, with warm temperatures and the sun beaming down on the gathering – a welcomed sight after several days of on and off rain showers.

Only two other elementary schools, one in Scranton and another in Erie, received the award, said Superintendent Michael Pawlik.

While Pawlik was appreciative of the students efforts, he said it was just as important for them to keeping working hard, be good people and be kind to each other as they continued on with their educational experiences.

Ferrell has excelled in academics, arts and athletics in order to receive the honor.

State Rep. Garth Everett, R-Muncy Township, guest speaker for the event, presented a citation from the state House of Representatives, signed by the Speaker of the House, Chief Clerk and Everett.

Everett congratulated the school, which was a recipient of the same award in 2008, and its principal for her “energetic and perceptive leadership.”

The school was among 340 private and public schools across the nation to receive the honor authorized by U.S. Department of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, according to Everett.

It was quite an honor considering there are 2,255 elementary schools in the state, Pawlik said.

The school getting the award is not only an achievement from the academic performance standard but private schools often have an advantage over public schools in achieving this level of success, Everett said.

Many of the children at Ferrell live in the more rural areas of the eastern part of Lycoming County, which is served by Everett.