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Van Voorhis Elementary cuts ribbon on new schoolhouse

By Savannah Baird and Eric PilgrimAugust 14, 2024

Fort Knox and DoDEA officials celebrate the opening of the new 21st century Van Voorhis Elementary School with a ribbon cutting ceremony at Fort Knox, Kentucky August 13, 2024.

Editor's Note: To view all photos of the event, go to our official Flickr album at https://www.flickr.com/photos/fortknoxky/albums/72177720319502565/.

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(from left) Gregory Bull, DODEA Americas Southeast District superintendent, Dr. Judith Minor, DODEA Americas director of Student Excellence, Col. Bridget Dalziel, Aviation Branch chief of U.S. Army Human Resources Command, Dr. Beth...
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (from left) Gregory Bull, DODEA Americas Southeast District superintendent, Dr. Judith Minor, DODEA Americas director of Student Excellence, Col. Bridget Dalziel, Aviation Branch chief of U.S. Army Human Resources Command, Dr. Beth Schiavino-Narvaez, DODEA director, Kimberly Dunn, DODEA Americas Fort Knox Community superintendent, 2nd Grader Emma Carvelli, and Laura Gibson, Van Voorhis Elementary principal, cut the ribbon on the new Van Voorhis Elementary Schoolhouse Aug. 13, 2024. (Photo Credit: Eric Pilgrim) VIEW ORIGINAL
Van Voorhis Elementary School 2nd Grader Emma Carvelli looks surprised when school principal Laura Gibson hands her a souvenir strip of the ribbon that Carvelli helped cut during the ceremony.
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Van Voorhis Elementary School 2nd Grader Emma Carvelli looks surprised when school principal Laura Gibson hands her a souvenir strip of the ribbon that Carvelli helped cut during the ceremony. (Photo Credit: Eric Pilgrim) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT KNOX, Ky. — Hundreds of Van Voorhis Elementary School students, faculty and staff members joined several people from Fort Knox and the surrounding communities as well as leaders from Department of Defense Education Activity Aug. 13 to witness the official opening of the new schoolhouse.

Van Voorhis Elementary School students participated in the ceremony Aug. 13, 2024 to officially launch the new schoolhouse.
Van Voorhis Elementary School students participated in the ceremony Aug. 13, 2024 to officially launch the new schoolhouse. (Photo Credit: Eric Pilgrim) VIEW ORIGINAL

After more than 60 years, the old elementary schoolhouse closed its doors in May in anticipation of the new facility. Engineers from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and contractors from Messer Construction said they worked tirelessly to beat the original 2025 timeline for opening the school so this year’s students, teachers and staff members could enjoy the new facility.

At a price tag of over $61 million, the state-of-the-art facility spanning over 100,000 square feet offers students the latest technological and educational advances, including color-coded neighborhoods, adjustable walls, a multimedia library and even a broadcast room with a green screen background.

Dr. Beth Schiavino-Narvaez, director of Department of Defense Education Activity, tells the students and others gathered at the ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Van Voorhis Elementary School building how the building is the third teacher in a...
Dr. Beth Schiavino-Narvaez, director of Department of Defense Education Activity, tells the students and others gathered at the ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Van Voorhis Elementary School building how the building is the third teacher in a child’s education, after teachers and fellow students. (Photo Credit: Eric Pilgrim) VIEW ORIGINAL

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