Latest news with #GreenHill
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Greenbrier's Timothy Mitcham wins Tennessean's Student of the Week for helping classmates
Timothy Mitcham of Greenbrier High School was the top vote-getter in a competitive Student of the Week poll that had nine nominees. The category was students who help other students in ways like peer mentoring, assisting classmates with special needs, tutoring and more. The Tennessean asks Middle Tennessee high school principals, guidance counselors, teachers and staff to send us their best students in different categories throughout the school year. Those nominated are part of our weekly poll as we then let you, the reader, decide who deserves the title by voting in our weekly poll. Mitcham received 5,578 votes, just ahead of runner-up Lukas Delaney of Montgomery Central with 4,868 votes. Anais Vazquez of Rossview garnered 1,071 votes. Cosmetology & SkillsUSA Advisor Laureida Dooley pointed to examples about Mitcham that included the student's help with an annual prom fashion show and support for students with special needs. Check on Monday to vote in our next scheduled poll to recognize seniors. Here is a look at the students nominated for this poll. 'Class Disrupted': Hear from students on today's heated education debates in ongoing series A second-year peer mentor, Vazquez works in the self-contained classroom with students who have the most complex disabilities. Vazquez consistently arrives each day with an exceptional attitude and readily assists in all situations, Comprehensive Development Classroom teacher Daniel Cozine said. Vazquez was also described showing remarkable skill working with the most challenging students, effectively navigating communication and feeding challenges. Vazquez plans to pursue a nursing degree this fall. Delaney has served as a peer mentor for Comprehensive Development Classroom students for the past two years, teacher Debra Tuberville said. "He is an outstanding young man who willingly works with any student, regardless of their disability. Many students request to work with him on a daily basis," Tuberville said. Delaney frequently volunteers to support students who are having a difficult day, something he takes pride in. "He is a true inspiration to all who know him," Tuberville said. The senior "comes to school each day with a positive attitude towards students and staff. Gatlin is the type of student that, if all were as good as he is, would put all principals out of business because he is that outstanding," Principal William Gray said in his nomination. "Gatlin is the most respectful student I have ever encountered." The senior has been a peer helper in special education classrooms at Green Hill for two years. Cleveland has also been an active member in the school's Best Buddies club and serves as the Buddy Director on the leadership team for Best Buddies. Cleveland is also an active member of Green Hill's Special Olympics Unified Fitness club and has been a helper with the school's Unified Track and Field Athletes. "Ella strives to learn more about how to not only be a friend to people with disabilities but also how to better include, advocate, and interact," Green Hill Comprehensive Development Classroom teacher Victoria Croasmun said. "She has been a great role model for these students and has helped these students achieve goals. She cultivates genuine friendships and has provided opportunities for these students to have a typical high school experience inside and outside of school. She represents a heart for inclusion." A Comprehensive Development Classroom peer described by Principal Phillip Holt as "an outstanding role model who cares deeply about all students, Brianna is willing to work with anyone in need." Smith has volunteered at both fall and spring Special Olympic events, is president of Inclusion Club and has helped plan and coordinate events throughout the year for the Comprehensive Development Classroom including the annual high school spring dance here on campus for all Sumner County schools. Smith plans to become a special education teacher one day herself. Zimmerman has been a peer tutor for Riverdale's special education department. "Ryan arrives with an upbeat, exciting energy that uplifts all of our kids," his nominator said. Zimmerman is described as always ready to lend a helping hand when needed and works well with even our most struggling students. We have been blessed to have him on our team." As a peer tutor in Siegel's Structured Instruction classes, Fuss helps students in class and also participates in after-school events for special needs students. Described as kind, helpful who always goes above and beyond to befriend students to lend a listening ear. The senior was a student peer helper in one of the school's Comprehensive Development Classroom classes last semester. 'It taught me a lot about patience, understanding, and empathy," Shelton said. "I learned how to communicate in different ways to adapt to each kid's uniqueness. I enjoyed building puzzles and playing bingo with them. I helped with reading, writing, and some math.' Shelton also played volleyball for four years and competed one year on the track and field team in the discus. Shelton has also volunteered at her church Vacation Bible School for four years and given volleyball lessons to youth for the past two years. She has taken multiple Honors, AP, and Dual Enrollment classes and achieved a 4.3 grade point average. Shelton will be attending Massachusetts Maritime Academy this fall to study Marine Engineering and play volleyball. Reach Andy Humbles at ahumbles@ and on X, formerly known as Twitter @ AndyHumbles. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Timothy Mitcham of Greenbrier wins Tennessean Student of the Week poll
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Students who help students. Vote now in The Tennessean's Student of the Week poll
Students who help other students is the latest category for The Tennessean's Student of the Week poll, which saw nine nominees. These are students who give of themselves in such ways like helping peers with special needs, tutoring other students, helping with athletic teams, working with younger students and more. Most weeks during the school year, The Tennessean asks Middle Tennessee high school principals, guidance counselors, teachers and staff to send us their best students in different categories for our Student of the Week feature. We then allow you, the reader, to vote for the student who most deserves the title. Votes will be accepted through noon, Thursday, May 8. But, before you cast your votes, let's take a closer look at the nominees: A second-year peer mentor who works in the self-contained classroom with students who have the most complex disabilities. Anais consistently arrives each day with an exceptional attitude and readily assists in all situations, Comprehensive Development Classroom teacher Coach Daniel Cozine said. Anais was also described showing remarkable skill working with the most challenging students, effectively navigating communication and feeding challenges. Anais plans to pursue a nursing degree this fall. Lukas has served as a peer mentor for Comprehensive Development Classroom students for the past two years, teacher Debra Tuberville said. "He is an outstanding young man who willingly works with any student, regardless of their disability. Many students request to work with him on a daily basis," Tuberville said. Lukas frequently volunteers to support students who are having a difficult day, something he takes pride in. "He is a true inspiration to all who know him," Tuberville said. The senior "comes to school each day with a positive attitude towards students and staff. Gatlin is the type of student that, if all were as good as he is, would put all principals out of business because he is that outstanding," Principal William Gray said in his nomination. "Gatlin is the most respectful student I have ever encountered." The senior has been a peer helper in special education classrooms at Green Hill for two years. Ella has also been an active member in the school's Best Buddies club and serves as the Buddy Director on the leadership team for Best Buddies. Ella is also an active member of Green Hill's Special Olympics Unified Fitness club and has been a helper with the school's Unified Track and Field Athletes. "Ella strives to learn more about how to not only be a friend to people with disabilities but also how to better include, advocate, and interact," Green Hill Comprehensive Development Classroom teacher Victoria Croasmun said. "She has been a great role model for these students and has helped these students achieve goals. She cultivates genuine friendships and has provided opportunities for these student s to have a typical high school experience inside and outside of school. She represents a heart for inclusion." A Comprehensive Development Classroom peer described by Principal Phillip Holt as "an outstanding role model who cares deeply about all students, Brianna is willing to work with anyone in need." Brianna has volunteered at both fall and spring Special Olympic events, is president of Inclusion Club and has helped plan and coordinate events throughout the year for the Comprehensive Development Classroom including the annual high school spring dance here on campus for all Sumner County schools. Brianna plans to become a special education teacher one day herself. Cosmetology & SkillsUSA Advisor Laureida Dooley pointed to an example when Timothy helped with an annual prom fashion show and partnering with a senior girl with Cerebral Palsy for the couples dance. "This young man was patient, kind, considerate, attentive, and made this experience for her as special as it could be," Dooley said. Ryan has been a peer tutor for Riverdale's special education department. "Ryan arrives with an upbeat, exciting energy that uplifts all of our kids," his nominator said. Ryan is described as always ready to lend a helping hand when needed and works well with even our most struggling students. We have been blessed to have him on our team." As a peer tutor in Siegel's Structured Instruction classes, Addison helps students in class and also participates in after-school events for special needs students. Described as kind, helpful who always goes above and beyond to befriend students to lend a listening ear. The senior has been a student peer helper in one of the school's Comprehensive Development Classroom classes last semester. 'It taught me a lot about patience, understanding, and empathy," Emery said. "I learned how to communicate in different ways to adapt to each kid's uniqueness. I enjoyed building puzzles and playing bingo with them. I helped with reading, writing, and some math.' Emery also played volleyball for four years and competed one year on the track and field team in the discus. Emery has also volunteered at her church Vacation Bible School for four and given volleyball lessons to youth for the past two years. She has taken multiple Honors, AP, and Dual Enrollment classes and achieved a 4.3 grade point average. Emery will be attending Massachusetts Maritime Academy this fall to study Marine Engineering and play volleyball. Reach Andy Humbles at ahumbles@ and on X, formerly known as Twitter @ AndyHumbles. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Vote for The Tennessean Student of the Week poll for students who help
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Vietnam vet reunites with woman he met in 1969 -- thanks to AI and a war memoir
Apr. 15—MITCHELL — For more than half a century, Vietnam veteran Jim Anderson held onto a memory — a brief wartime encounter, a father's untold story, and a promise to one day find a book that hadn't yet been written. Now, 56 years after that fleeting afternoon in Sydney, Australia, Anderson's long wait has finally come full circle. In April, Anderson was reunited with Robyn (Bond) Wood, an Australian woman he met in 1969 while on leave from Cu Chi, Vietnam, where he was stationed with the 20th Transportation Company hauling helicopter parts. Their reconnection was made possible through persistence, technology and a book called "Twists of Fate." "It's been one big twist of fate," Anderson said, smiling. In 1969, Anderson chose Australia for his R&R destination. On a return flight to Sydney after visiting Armidale, he struck up a conversation with Wood, then a university student heading home to Melbourne. "After spending the last 10 months in Vietnam, I was not about to pass up an opportunity to visit with a pretty girl," Anderson recalled. They spent a few hours together in Sydney — seeing "Romeo and Juliet," grabbing a meal and talking. Wood told him about her father, Stanley Arthur Bond, a World War II medic who had been captured on Crete and spent four years as a prisoner of war. Anderson, whose uncle had died in the Pacific during the war, was fascinated. But the two parted ways soon after, with no way to stay in touch — just memories and a single black-and-white photo. For decades, Anderson searched for a WWII memoir written by someone named Bond. He had no first name, only fragments: Crete, a POW camp and Madame Chiang Kai-Shek. He regularly checked used bookstores and catalogs but came up empty — until last September. "Thanks to computers and AI, I hit the jackpot," he said. "I entered the right string of words, and there it was." The result was "Twists of Fate," the autobiography of Stanley Arthur Bond, edited by his daughter, Dr. Robyn Wood, and published by Green Hill in August 2023. Anderson ordered a copy and read it — twice. Anderson contacted the publisher, who connected him with Wood. He sent an email with the old photo and a simple note: "I've been waiting for your father's book for 55 years." Wood was skeptical at first. "I was a little bit suspicious of someone saying that they had met me 55 years ago," Wood said. Wood didn't remember the encounter at first, but Anderson's detailed memory, backed by a wartime letter he'd written home (and which his mother had saved), convinced her. "He remembered so much," Wood said. "I had no memory of us. So I was impressed." Anderson still had the ticket stubs from "Romeo and Juliet," now part of a Vietnam collection he's kept over the years. As fate would have it, Wood had already planned a trip to Canada to meet newly discovered relatives. With Anderson's invitation and perfect timing, she made a detour to South Dakota. On April 7, Anderson and his wife, Joan, picked her up in Rapid City. Together, they visited the Badlands, Mount Rushmore and the Corn Palace — where Anderson pointed out a mural of the Sydney Opera House. "I have a picture of the Sydney Opera House taken in April of 1969," Anderson said. "So when I saw it depicted on the Corn Palace, it brought back memories. It gave me even more reason to show Mitchell's version of a world wonder to a visitor from Down Under." Wood didn't begin editing her father's memoirs until she retired in 2015. A former research assistant in geology at Melbourne University and later a viticulturist, she finally had time to dig into her father's writings — a massive collection that spanned his early years, wartime service and post-war life. The project took six to seven years. "I grew up thinking he was born in New Zealand," Wood said. "It wasn't until I started digging that I learned he was actually born in London and spent much of his early life in an orphanage." This wasn't her first editing project — she previously worked on "Elmhurst Bush Nursing Center: 100 Years of Caring," but this one was deeply personal. "It helped me understand who my father really was, not just as a dad, but as a man shaped by war and survival," Wood said. She hopes to one day visit the POW camp where her father was held — now a museum — and walk the same death march route he endured. As for whether the Andersons will ever make it to Australia to visit Wood? "Whether or not I get back down there, I don't know," Anderson said. "When you're 80, it gets tougher to travel." Still, for two people brought together by a twist of fate — and a long-awaited book — the journey has already gone farther than either could've imagined. "Maybe things would have been different if the internet was around back then," Wood said with a smile. "Maybe," Anderson replied. "But I'm just glad we met again — and that I finally got to read the book."
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
17-strikeout TSSAA softball performance among Ponce Law Nashville area girls athlete of week choices
There were some huge TSSAA girls softball performances across the Nashville area last week. Now, you get to choose the best. Vote for the Ponce Law Nashville area girls athlete of the week today. The poll will close Thursday at noon. Cayla Clemmer, Brentwood Academy: Clemmer pitched seven innings allowing only one hit and striking out 12 in a 3-0 win over Pope John Paul II. More: Multi-HR games up for Ponce Law Nashville area boys athlete of week award More: Nashville's Felicia Grinter an official in NCAA Women's Final Four of March Madness for ninth time Hayleigh Deering, Beech: Deering was 3-for-4 with a home run, a double and two RBIs in an 8-3 loss to Green Hill. Paisley Campbell, Coffee County: Campbell was 3-for-3 with two doubles and two RBIs in a 3-1 win over Huntsville. Campbell was also 2-for-2 with a home run and four RBIs in a 7-6 loss to Giles County. Anna Brewer, Columbia Academy: Brewer pitched seven innings allowing only three hits and striking out 17 in a 3-1 win over FRA. She also was 3-for-4 with a double and three RBIs and pitched seven innings allowing four hits and striking out 16 in a 10-2 win over FRA. Bailey Lovell, Columbia: Lovell was 2-for-3 with a home run and three RBIs and pitched seven innings allowing six hits and striking out nine in a 6-4 win over Lincoln County. Heather Scales, DCA: Scales was 2-for-4 with two home runs and five RBIs in DCA's 11-4 victory over CPA on Tuesday. Taylor Moreland, Forrest: Moreland pitched six innings allowing no hits and striking out 15 and was 3-for-4 with a home run, a double and seven RBIs in an 11-4 win over Cannon County. Lizzy Plunkett, Gallatin: Plunkett was 3-for-4 with a home run and three RBIs in a loss to East Robertson. Brooklyn Jones, Goodpasture: Jones was 2-for-4 with a double and three RBIs in a 15-0 win over Mt. Juliet Christian. Bailey Stewart, Gordonsville: Stewart was 2-for-3 with a home run, a double and four RBIs in a 22-0 win over Red Boiling Springs. Reagan Walter, Green Hill: Walter was 2-for-2 with a home run and four RBIs against Nolensville. Peyton Kelley, Hendersonville: Kelley was 3-for-4 with a triple and two RBIs. Kelley was also 2-for-2 with a home run, a double and four RBIs against Leslie County. Logan Riebe, Independence: Riebe was 2-for-4 with two home runs and two RBIs in a 7-3 loss to Page. Reagan Frakes, Lawrence County: Frakes was 3-for-4 with a home run, a double and five RBIs in a 14-13 win over Marshall County. Mary Elizabeth Alsup, Lipscomb Academy: Alsup went 2-for-2 with a double, an RBI and two runs in a 6-0 win over Franklin County. Anna Stewart, Marshall County: Stewart was 3-for-5 with two RBIs in a loss to Lawrence County. Cailyn Ekberg, McGavock: Ekberg was 2-for-3 with two home runs and six RBIs in a 19-3 win over Hunters Lane. Peyton Vieira, Nolensville: Vieira was 2-for-3 with a home run and four RBIs in a win over Brentwood. Addison Oberbreckling, Nashville Christian: Oberbreckling was 4-for-5 with two home runs, a double and six RBIs in a 26-6 win over East Hickman. Tyler Palmateer covers high school sports for The Tennessean. Have a story idea for Tyler? Reach him at tpalmateer@ and on the X platform, formerly Twitter, @tpalmateer83. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: TSSAA softball: Vote for Ponce Law Nashville area girls athlete of the week
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Wilson County students 'fly' in hands-on courses that enrolled 181,000 statewide
Wilson Central High School senior Parker Klein is about to land in Miami. Mt. Juliet High seniors Dean Sutherland and Collin Fox, Green Hill senior Addison McQueen and Lebanon High senior Nicholas Ballard are also flying around the country — doing it all from Wilson County's central office. That is where a Career and Technical Education aviation class takes place using simulators, one of 193 CTE classes the district has with about 6,000 students enrolled per semester. "I like the way it gives kids an opportunity to experience aviation," Sutherland said, then adding. "Firsthand." Tennessee had more than 181,000 students enrolled in CTE courses during the 2023-24 academic year, according to the state Department of Education. The class of 2023 had 95.16% of CTE students go on to a four-year university, two-year college or technical program, military service, or the workforce. Tennessee schools will have 59 programs of study within CTE programs in 2025-26, according to the state, with programs that are aligned to a career cluster and include four courses. 'Career and Technical Education plays an integral role in preparing all Tennessee students today for the jobs of tomorrow,' said Lizzette Reynolds, Tennessee commissioner of education. 'Students are prepared for success by participating in opportunities that allow them to grow, improve, and learn, gaining the confidence and experience to advance to postsecondary, the workforce, or the military.' Agriculture and Natural Resources, Business Management, Culinary Arts, Cosmetology, Health Sciences and Information Technology are among the most popular CTE courses in Wilson County. Welding, marketing and automotive classes are among other district offerings, CTE Supervisor Bonnie Holman said. A majority of the district's dual enrollment courses are within CTE programs. There are 37 students in the four aviation courses the district offers, a program now in its second year. The classes have simulators that mimic actual flight details, from taking off to landing, with wind, turbulence, rain, day, night and other variables actual pilots experience. "It definitely helps because you can feel what a slip is supposed to feel like, which is a method of losing altitude quickly," Parker said while on the Redbird MCX Full Motion Simulator. "It is pretty realistic." Mt. Juliet High's Collin Fox has known since first-grade that he wanted to be a pilot. "I even told my first-grade teacher I'd fly her one day," Fox said. "And when I heard about this class I thought it was perfect. Especially since it is dual enrollment, so I'd have fun flying and skip real school. Perfect." Alan Ward, a pilot for 24 years with NetJets, teaches the district's four aviation classes. Ward learned of the opening after initially looking into substitute teaching with the district. Wilson County has 139 CTE teachers. Staffing classes with qualified trade experts, paying them and then teaching those experts "how to teach," is a challenge for CTE programs. So is equipment and material costs that many courses involve, Holman said. Wilson County did receive an Innovative School Models Grant in 2022 that has provided the district $8.5 million dollars over four years, through June 30, 2026. Funding helps add programs in each high school, hire instructors, purchase equipment support teacher professional development and training and provide stipends for CTE teachers, Holman said. "Aviation was one such program we were able to implement for the district and is a perfect example of an industry sector that is high skill, high wage and in demand regionally to our area," Holman said. "If we can expose students to more careers at an earlier age, they know what career options are available to them and they can pursue those. It allows those students hands on applications for those skills and they can test drive that career to see 'Do I enjoy this (or) do I not?' and that is a valuable learning experience in and of itself." Reach Andy Humbles at ahumbles@ and on X, formerly known as Twitter @ AndyHumbles. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Aviation courses give Middle Tennessee CTE students hands-on training
