Ellen Degeneres Surprises Harlem School With New Lab

HARLEM, NY — Talk show host and comedian Ellen DeGeneres surprised an East Harlem public school by donating a new technology lab to the school in partnership with Verizon.

Students and faculty of Patrick Henry Preparatory — a public elementary and middle school on East 103rd Street between Fifth and Madison avenues — gathered in the school's gymnasium thinking they were recording a video message to DeGeneres when the talk show host video called the school while taping her show.

The call sent students into a state of pandemonium before DeGeneres broke the good news.

"Verizon is giving your school and innovative learning lab that will feature new technology like virtual reality, robotics and 3D printing," DeGeneres said as the students and faculty erupted in cheers.

Later on in the broadcast, DeGeneres also announced that she would be giving the school a donation of $50,000.

Telecommunications giant Verizon has been supporting the school through a technology program for the past three years, a teacher said during the broadcast. Since receiving the support of the program students' scores on state reading exams have improved and are now considered among some of the best in New York, the teacher said.

Check out video of Ellen's surprise gift below:

Photo by Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images