Birdik Village School culminates with ceremony, surprise

A child receives a certificate culminating the completion of the school year at the Birdik Village School, Kyrgyzstan, May 25, 2010. Airmen from the Transit Center at Manas were invited to the graduation ceremony to help the children celebrate the end of the first school year since the completion of a recent reconstruction project. The project, which cost about $540,000, was funded by the Air Force and made possible by volunteer efforts from Airmen at the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan. The ribbon cutting was held Sept. 1, 2009. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Senior Airman Nichelle Anderson/ released)

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
Birdik Village School culminates with ceremony, surprise

Col. Blaine Holt, Director of the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan, gives a brief speech during a graduation ceremony for children at the Birdik Village School May 25, 2010. During his speech, Colonel Holt presented the school with a bus donated by the Transit Center. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Senior Airman Nichelle Anderson/ released)

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
Birdik Village School culminates with ceremony, surprise

Children perform for audience members during a graduation ceremony for Birdik Village School, Kyrgyzstan, May 25, 2010. Airmen from the Transit Center at Manas were invited to participate in the event, which the children have been waiting for all year. Today's event was more important than ever before because the children were able to look back on the year's accomplishments and celebrate the reconstruction of the school that was complete just eight month ago, with the help of the Transit Center and the U.S. Embassy. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Senior Airman Nichelle Anderson/ released)

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
Birdik Village School culminates with ceremony, surprise

Children place their hands over their hearts during the playing of the Kyrgyz National Anthem marking the beginning the graduation ceremony of the Birdik Village School, Kyrgyzstan, May 25, 2010. Airmen from the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan, attended the ceremony to celebrate the accomplishments of the children during the school year. This year was important to the children and the community of Birdik Village because they celebrated the completion of the first school year in the renovated facility. The project, which cost about $540,000, was funded by the Air Force and made possible by volunteer efforts from Airmen at the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan. The ribbon cutting was held Sept. 1, 2009.

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
Birdik Village School culminates with ceremony, surprise

Airmen from the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan, watch as children from Birdik Village School receive certificates culminating the successful completion of the school year May 25, 2010. The school celebrated its ribbon cutting just eight months ago after a reconstruction project valued at more than $540, 000. The newly-renovated school consists of 15 new computers, several TV systems, chairs, lockers, green boards, a new kitchen, a cafeteria, a transformer, and an electric generator, along with newly-installed furniture and equipment to help the children learn in a more conducive environment. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Senior Airman Nichelle Anderson/ released)

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
Birdik Village School culminates with ceremony, surprise

A bus sits outside of the Birdik Village School after Col. Blaine Holt, Transit Center Director, presented it on behalf of the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan, May 25, 2010. Airmen from the Transit Center were invited to attend a graduation ceremony culminating the end of the school year. This year's ceremony was especially important because it was the end of the first school year since the reconstruction of the school. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Senior Airman Nichelle Anderson/ released)

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
Birdik Village School culminates with ceremony, surprise

Children perform for audience members during a graduation ceremony for Birdik Village School, Kyrgyzstan, May 25, 2010. Airmen from the Transit Center at Manas were invited to participate in the event, which the children have been waiting for all year. Today?s event was more important than ever before because the children were able to look back on the year?s accomplishments and celebrate the reconstruction of the school that was complete just eight month ago, with the help of the Transit Center and the U.S. Embassy. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Senior Airman Nichelle Anderson/ released)

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
Birdik Village School culminates with ceremony, surprise

Children perform for audience members during a graduation ceremony for Birdik Village School, Kyrgyzstan, May 25, 2010. Airmen from the Transit Center at Manas were invited to participate in the event, which the children have been waiting for all year. Today's event was more important than ever before because the children were able to look back on the year's accomplishments and celebrate the reconstruction of the school that was complete just eight month ago, with the help of the Transit Center and the U.S. Embassy. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Senior Airman Nichelle Anderson/ released)

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
Birdik Village School culminates with ceremony, surprise

Children from the Birdik Village School, Kyrgyzstan, clap during a graduation ceremony at the school, marking the end of the school year May 25, 2010. Airmen from the Transit Center at Manas were invited to attend the celebration culminating the end of the school year. This year's ceremony was especially important because it was the first graduation since the reconstruction of the school last year. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Senior Airman Nichelle Anderson/ released)

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
Birdik Village School culminates with ceremony, surprise

Children perform for audience members during a graduation ceremony for Birdik Village School, Kyrgyzstan, May 25, 2010. Airmen from the Transit Center at Manas were invited to participate in the event, which the children have been waiting for all year. Today's event was more important than ever before because the children were able to look back on the year's accomplishments and celebrate the reconstruction of the school that was complete just eight month ago, with the help of the Transit Center and the U.S. Embassy. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Senior Airman Nichelle Anderson/ released)

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
Birdik Village School culminates with ceremony, surprise

Children from the Birdik Village School, Kyrgyzstan, ring the final bell culminating the end of the school year during a graduation ceremony at the school May 25, 2010. Airmen from the Transit Center were invited to the graduation ceremony to help the children celebrate the end of the first school year since the completion of the reconstruction project. The project, which cost about $540,000, was funded by the Air Force and volunteer efforts from Airmen at the Transit Center. The ribbon cutting was held Sept. 1, 2009. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Senior Airman Nichelle Anderson/ released)

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
Birdik Village School culminates with ceremony, surprise

Children from the Birdik Village School, Kyrgyzstan, listen and wait in anticipation for the last bell during a graduation ceremony at the school May 25, 2010. Airmen from the Transit Center at Manas were invited to attend the celebration culminating the end of the school year. This year's ceremony was especially important because it was the end of the first school year since the reconstruction of the school. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Senior Airman Nichelle Anderson/ released)

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
Birdik Village School culminates with ceremony, surprise

Ms. Valentina Turabekova, Special Assistant to the commander, speaks with Col. Blaine Holt, Transit Center Director; Director of Imarat Story Construction Project Mr. Beishembek Imanaliev; and Olga Voroshikhina, the Birdik Village School Principal, after the graduation ceremony for children of the Birdik Village School, May 25, 2010. Airmen from the Transit Center were invited to the graduation ceremony to help celebrate the end of the first school year since the completion of a recent reconstruction project. The project, which cost about $540,000, was funded by the Air Force and volunteer efforts from Airmen at the Transit Center at Manas. They celebrated the ribbon cutting Sept. 1, 2009. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Senior Airman Nichelle Anderson/ released)

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
Birdik Village School culminates with ceremony, surprise

Olga Voroshikhina, Birdik Village School Principal, signs registration papers for a bus donated by the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan, during a graduation ceremony for the school May 25, 2010. Colonel Holt presented the school with the bus during his speech. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Senior Airman Nichelle Anderson/ released)

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res

Birdik Village School culminates with ceremony, surprise

Published May 26, 2010
By Maj John Elolf
376th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

TRANSIT CENTER AT MANAS, Kyrgyzstan -- More than eight months after the reopening of the Birdik Village school, 250 students listened the sound of the last bell of the year during a ceremony May 25, 2010.

The Birdik Village school was a reconstruction project which cost about $540,000 and was funded by the Air Force and volunteer efforts from Airmen at the Transit Center.

The ceremony, attended by Transit Center at Manas Director Col. Blaine Holt and the senior enlisted leader, Chief Master Sgt. James Dowell, was a celebration of the Krygyz culture and is something the students and staff have looked forward to since the beginning of the school year.

"This day is important for the children because all of the kids have been waiting for the last bell ceremony," said Ms. Olga Voroshikhina, principal of the Birdik Village school.
During the ceremony, Colonel Holt was provided the opportunity to speak the children and present a surprise gift from the Airmen at the Transit Center.

"It is an honor to be here to today," he said. "It seems that Education Day was just yesterday. In America, children learn the same lesson you learned this year: that with education, everything is possible."

"We have a surprise gift to give you on this day," he continued. "It is honor to present to you with this very big bus -- your Birdik School bus."

"This is an amazing gift from the Transit Center," said Olga Voroshikhina, principle of the Birdik School. "We have many kids attending school from neighboring villages in winter time, in rain and snow. Now they will not have to wait for public vans or walk to school."

With the addition of the bus, Ms. Voroshikhina believes that more students will be able to attend the school.

"More and more students will be able to attend the school from Leninskoye and Vinogradnoye villages," she said.

Children will now be able to attend the theaters and visit museums in Bishkek.

"Today's event is even more exciting and important for the children because they've received such a wonderful gift from the Transit Center officials," she said.