Fans of NBA basketball are accustomed to hearing the chants of “MVP!” whenever Nuggets superstar Nicola Jokic is on the floor at Ball Arena in downtown Denver. 

On Wednesday, February 13, there was also an MVT in the house….Most Valuable Teacher.

The Nuggets honored “Coach” Melissa Garcia at the game as the February MVT. Along with dinner and four tickets to the game, Garcia received a check for two thousand dollars to spend on her students. She plans to use the money to support the school’s popular Drone Soccer Program which she oversees.

The award in her honor was first shared during an assembly at Orchard Park Academy where Nuggets team representatives and “Rocky” the mascot showed up to lead a celebration. In addition to handing out team swag, Rocky made a backwards half-court shot that thrilled the crowd. 

On game night, Garcia got a special shout-out with her name and picture displayed on the huge overhead screens. 

The night before, she was honored by the Board of Education for her commitment to her students and the school district.  Always humble, she gave the credit for her success to her students.