Cedarcrest High School PTA members presented science teacher Bruce Murdock with the Washington State PTA Outstanding Educator Award at the 2012 senior awards night.

The award was created by the WSPTA to “recognize individuals who go beyond the normal expectations of teaching to make the learning environment fun, beneficial and challenging. The PTA believes that the interest and diversity an educator brings to the classroom directly influences the success of a student.”

Murdock has brought enthusiasm, in-depth instruction, 40 years of teaching experience and a rare and brand of humor to the science curriculum at Cedarcrest, and to each of his students.

During his tenure at CHS, Murdock has raised the bar for students’ embrace of and experience in science. The success of CHS students at regional, state and national science and engineering fairs has been extraordinary, and would not have been possible without his enduring dedication and commitment to his students.

He has also been recognized by fellow teachers, earning the State Science and Engineering Fair’s Teacher of the Year award for the past two years. The award will now be named for him.

Murdock retires this year, with the gratitude of students, parents, and staff for his passion and dedication to the success of the science program at Cedarcrest for the past seven years.