00:00I need you all to get really, really excited, and I want you to welcome the First Lady of
00:08the United States, just like you would welcome anybody to Ash County, but she's really, really
00:13special.
00:14So, students and staff, distinguished guests, it's my great honor to welcome to Ash County
00:20Schools and Mountain View Elementary, the First Lady of the United States, Mrs. Melania
00:26Trump.
00:50Hello, everyone.
00:54Thank you, Dr. Cox.
00:57Thank you for welcoming me back to North Carolina.
01:02It is such an honor to meet inspirational people from Ash County and Mountain View Elementary
01:09School.
01:10I'm so proud of you all.
01:14To Dr. Cox, Mr. Graybill, educators, students, administrators, and the brave families of Mountain
01:25View, thank you for welcoming me here today.
01:29Your story is incredible.
01:31North Carolina is the definition of resilience.
01:37Toughness in times of adversity is ingrained in the Attar Hill State's character.
01:45It is easy to discover resilience within the courage of Ash County's families, the strength
01:53of this community, and determination of its people to rise when needed.
01:59Almost two years ago, Hurricane Haleen hit North Carolina with incredible force.
02:08Record-breaking rainfall led your state legislature to describe it as multiple 1,000-year flood
02:17events.
02:18Hundreds of roads and bridges were damaged or destroyed.
02:23Over 1,000,000 people lost power and many neighborhoods lost water, communication, and other vital services,
02:33including Ash County.
02:36Tragically, 108 lives were lost.
02:42For children here at Mountain View Elementary, the storm took away much more than just your
02:49daily routine.
02:51Your neighborhood was flooded and your school was transformed into a distribution center.
02:58For too many kids across the state, the familiar daily routines of classrooms,
03:04teachers and friends were suddenly gone.
03:10But, as the water levels rose, youth stepped up for one another.
03:17Families welcomed others into their homes.
03:20Brave individuals rushed towards the dangers to assist.
03:25And faith leaders gave comfort.
03:29Teachers became anchors of stability.
03:32And your school turned into more than a place to learn.
03:36It turned into a lifeline providing food, water, supplies, counseling, and hope.
03:46Mountain View's assistant principal, Cynthia Harless, is an American hero.
03:52When Hurricane Haleen struck, Cynthia drove to check on the school.
03:57Soon thereafter, flood waters washed away the roads, leaving Cynthia and her family unable to return home.
04:07Rather than focus on her own hardship, she spent the next four weeks volunteering at Mountain View Elementary's distribution center,
04:17providing critical supplies to families and neighbors in need.
04:24Where is Cynthia?
04:27Is Cynthia here?
04:29Hi, Cynthia. Please come up.
04:43Thank you so much.
04:46Thank you so much.
04:51Thank you. Is she fantastic?
04:57Thank you so much.
05:13Cynthia, all of the America saw your town's strength, Mountain View.
05:19Resilience, however, is more than just being strong and rebuilding what was lost.
05:26True resilience means having the courage to look ahead and move society forward, creating a better future for our children.
05:36And less than two years after Haleen, North Carolina did just that.
05:41Through the Presidential AI Challenge, students and teachers from North Carolina took the national stage, inspired by what's possible.
05:54One of the America's 2026 Presidential AI National Champions came from right here in North Carolina.
06:03Ms. Carrie Robledo, a second-grade teacher at Starr Elementary School, created AI insect detectives.
06:15She introduced young children to artificial intelligence using science, curiosity, and the natural world.
06:23Ms. Robledo traveled three hours to meet us here today.
06:29Carrie, you are a national champion.
06:33Please come here and join me and say a few words.
06:38Thank you so much.
06:50As a rural teacher, I am incredibly grateful to First Lady Melania Trump for creating the Presidential AI Challenge
06:58and helping shine a light on the importance of AI literacy starting in elementary school.
07:05I'm honored to help our youngest students explore AI and see themselves as innovators, no matter their zip code.
07:13Thank you so much.
07:14Thank you. Congratulations.
07:16Please thank you so much.
07:17Thank you so much.
07:23Thank you so much.
07:25Thank you so much.
07:29Think about that remarkable journey from flood borders to the cutting edge of artificial intelligence.
07:37Ms. Robledo built something that no hurricane can destroy and no flood can wash away – knowledge.
07:46And knowledge is power.
07:48Knowledge gives everyone in this town the chance to move beyond her lean and to imagine new possibilities.
07:57It gives the next generation the choice to help create a beautiful world in the future, a better America.
08:05This is the lasting spirit of America.
08:09We may face hard times, but we do not fail.
08:13We choose to grow like a rare young flower pushing through the cold earth after a storm.
08:21North Carolina has shown that resilience can blossom even in the most difficult times.
08:28In this community, the storm didn't have the final word.
08:33Ash County and Mountain View Elementary, you are the spirit of America.
08:44It is wonderful to be with all of your students at the Mountain View today.
08:50You kids are the stars.
08:53Shortly, I will visit your classrooms and I cannot wait to see what you have been learning.
08:59I am especially excited to hear about your work with AI.
09:05As you begin new school year, remember to take your education seriously.
09:12Stay curious and always challenge yourself.
09:15And I have a special surprise to help jumpstart that curiosity.
09:24Be Best, Fostering the Future and NVIDIA have joined together to provide 1,500 students in Ash County with study
09:37fetch subscriptions.
09:38We have also arranged to provide 100 Jetson Nino developer kits for the young ones here at the Mountain View
09:47Elementary as well as for other schools in this district.
09:53Dream big and use these AI tools to build something never created before.
10:00Maybe one of you will create the next robot and if you do, make sure you bring it into the
10:11White House to show me.
10:12Thank you for having me today.
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