Good afternoon,

It is with great honor and pride that I commend you and your team for a superb job at the 12^th Annual Calvert Science and Engineering EXPO.  The event moved like a well-oiled machine from start to finish as a result of the dedicated efforts from all of our participants.  With a near perfect performance, you certainly have raised the bar for next year's event. In the movie The Wild Robot, the robot Roz exclaims " sometimes to survive, we must become more than we were programmed to be." This resonates with me as I think about all the ways in which our STEM community contributed to the success of this event.  You and your team went above and beyond what you were simply programmed to do!  You recognized the importance of promoting STEM in our community.  You dedicated time finding volunteers, planning exhibits, and ordering supplies.  You sacrificed time on a Saturday to serve your community.  Most importantly, while you and your team were serving, we could feel your energy, we could sense the pride in your work, and we saw the sincerity in your eyes as you welcomed people of all ages to your exhibits.  The students who facilitated exhibits should be commended for their work as aspiring leaders in STEM fields.  They handled themselves in a mature manner from start to finish and helped to create an inviting environment for our younger scientists.  You all have embraced the vision that sparked the implementation of this annual event and it is my hope that you will continue to participate, that you will share your experience with others so that they may choose to participate in the future, and that you keep the passion for STEM alive within our students.  You helped make this happen!  Thank You!