Symetra Financial and the Seattle Seahawks announced today that Chief Sealth High is the recipient of the 2008 Symetra Heroes in the Classroom "MVP Award." Through the award, the school will receive $20,000 toward an innovative student achievement program.

The Chief Sealth program will improve technology education and expand the availability of computers.

The Symetra Heroes in the Classroom program honors Seattle Public School teachers for excellence in the classroom throughout the Seahawks season. This year each of the schools represented by a 2008 teacher Hero were eligible to compete for the MVP Award, which provides funding to enhance learning at Seattle schools.

Symetra and the Seahawks joined the Alliance for Education, Seattle Foundation and Seattle Public Schools to develop the MVP Award funding plans and select the winning schools.

Chief Sealth: "LapHawks"

The LapHawks program promotes computer literacy and computer programming skills-particularly among female students. Currently, students have limited access to computers and technology curriculum, which can be an impediment as they enter college and the workforce.

Led by science teacher and 2008 Hero, Dr. Nancy Ruzycki, LapHawks will provide laptop computers to integrate technology in lessons across the school. Teachers will be trained on how to use computer modeling to provide lessons that motivate students, broaden curriculum objectives, and better prepare students for the workplace.

In addition, the computers will be used for peer mentoring between students in the SmartGirls afterschool program and middle schools students, expanding the impact of the technology.

"The MVP award enables us to reach students in a whole new way," said John Boyd, principal of Chief Sealth. "From analyzing data in science class, to preparing visual reports in history class, these laptops will help support students in reaching their fullest potential."