Neil Armstrong Academy principal Tyler Howe sprinted to the school’s auditorium after being radioed by assistant principal Brett Bawden that there was an “emergency situation.”

“I even ducked under the doorframe because I was moving so fast,” Tyler said of his quick response.

Whatever dread was going through his mind quickly dissipated as an enormous crowd of students, teachers, friends, and family members greeted him with resounding applause upon arrival. Try to imagine relief, surprise, joy, and unbelief on one man’s face in a matter of seconds.

It’s no wonder that members of the Granite Education Foundation look forward to the ‘Prize Patrol’ day every year. Here’s the list of the 2015 GEF Excel Award winners:

Trevor Black – 6th Grade, Howard Driggs Elementary
Jennifer Buck – 6th Grade, Upland Terrace Elementary
Mandy Chapple – Pharmacy Tech, Granite Technical Institute
Shantelle Ford – 4th Grade, West Kearns Elementary
Noemi Hernandez-Balcazar – Art, Kearns High School
Barbara Homer – 2nd Grade, Cottonwood Elementary
Tyler Howe – Principal, Neil Armstrong Academy
Julie Leri – Science, Hunter Jr. High
Andrew McIntyre – Mathematics, Valley Jr. High
Michele Morgan – Resource, Beehive Elementary

The winners will attend a dinner held in their honor on April 17, where they will receive their award in front of family, friends and colleagues.