JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. -- Growing up, John Rozsnyai attended Brigadoon Elementary School in Federal Way, Washington.
“I actually grew up adjacent to the school,” Rozsnyai said. “The cross walk was actually straight in front of my front door.”
Rozsnyai graduated and ended up at the 446th Operations Group here 30 minutes away from his old elementary school, but it was last year that began a full circle for Rozsnyai and Brigadoon.
In November 2020 while researching, Rozsnyai, the electronic flight bag manager for 446th Operations Group here, stumbled upon Defense Logistics Agency’s (DLA) disposition service program called Computers for Learning, or CFL.
“I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to help the local community and brighten some students’ day, especially with how challenging the past year has been with COVID-19 and the impact it had on education,” Rozsnyai said. “The iPads are in good shape and have plenty of life left in them. I wanted to make the most of the opportunity by finding a new home for them, somewhere where they could provide a difference. I’m excited about the opportunities the iPads will give to the teachers and students.”
Though plenty of paperwork was involved, Rozsnyai was undeterred and unfazed. He called around to local schools. His mother recommended that he contact his old elementary school, Brigadoon. That was when Rozsnyai found a match with Brigadoon Elementary School, who had a need for 96 devices.
On June 8, 2021, Brigadoon Elementary picked up the tablets from DLA here, and began putting them to use.
“It feels amazing to know that John was a child scholar of Brigadoon back in his time and now he thought of us as a recipient of this particular opportunity,” said Vicki Lopez, Brigadoon Elementary School principal who picked up the devices.
According to Lopez, the 96 tablets will bring the school’s tech-to-student ratio to a 1:1.
“We really appreciate the opportunity to acquire these tech equipment for our scholars,” said Keven Dickerman, Brigadoon Elementary School’s family liaison representative. “We are continually updating the way that we educate our scholars for the future and technology is an important part. These devices will support the multitude of online resources that our scholars have access to each day.”
Dickerman added the donation allows additional opportunities for their students to work on a device for a variety of subjects such as reading and math.
“For the younger students, they help with letter sounds and word recognition. These devices also provide online access to a variety of book titles, science topics and learning, and problem solving that can accommodate small group learning opportunities,” Dickerman said.
According to CFL program manager, Jose Aguero, the Department of Defense (DoD) CFL program was established on April 17, 1996 under Executive Order 12999. CFL was created to provide useful information technology (IT) equipment to schools and educational non-profit organizations serving grades pre-kindergarten through high school. It streamlines the transfer of excess DoD IT equipment to schools. In 2020 alone, over $2 million in used and excess IT equipment was donated through the CFL program.
“The DoD CFL program has been very beneficial not only to the schools who participate in it, but most importantly, it has created an agreeable fellowship between the military and local communities where they reside to foster a partnership in assisting children within their schools and school districts as a whole,” Aguero said.
Rozsnyai believes it is important for the Air Force to give back to the local community they serve in, especially during difficult times.
“Joint Base Lewis-McChord has built an amazing relationship with our partners within the Puget Sound region,” said Rozsnyai. “Part of the reason for this great relationship is the active involvement by members from across the base within the local communities, helping share in the responsibilities of making the community where we all live a better place to be. Hopefully, these iPads will do just that and add another chapter to our community’s success.”
Rozsnyai added that based on the iPad transfer success with Brigadoon Elementary School, he has already found another school interested in joining the CFL program.
“I urge eligible schools and non-profit organizations to learn more about how the CFL program can make a difference in their classrooms and in their technology budgetary allocations,” Aguero said. “The computer equipment is free and enhances the educational opportunity for students to build 21st century skills, increases student engagement and motivation, and accelerates learning.”