Latest news with #Mt.JulietHighSchool
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Middle Tennessee town honors NASA astronaut with 'Barry Wilmore Way,' more planned
Mt. Juliet has named a portion of North Mt. Juliet Road for astronaut Barry 'Butch' Wilmore, a 1981 Mt. Juliet High School graduate and city native. Barry Wilmore Way is designated between Lebanon Road and a future Sprouts store under construction across from Mt. Juliet Church of Christ, according to a social media post by the city. New signs have been put up. Wilmore, who now lives in Texas to be close to the Johnson Space Center in Houston, returned to Earth in March after more than nine months on the International Space Station. The astronaut still has family in Middle Tennessee and has commented on how he considers the state home. In April, Wilmore presented a Tennessee flag to the General Assembly in Nashville after it flew during the entirety of the astronaut's extended stay in space. 'Any town would love to have someone with his level of accomplishments,' Mt. Juliet Mayor James Maness said. Wilmore's mission with astronaut Sunita Williams was a test flight with the pair serving as the first human crew for the Boeing Starliner spacecraft. The mission was initially estimated for one-to-two weeks. However, technical problems with the spacecraft resulted in a stay of 286 days in space for Wilmore and Williams. Wilmore is now a veteran of three spaceflights and has accumulated a total of 464 days in space, according to NASA. Wilmore also went to Tennessee Tech University and played football. Mt. Juliet also plans to honor Wilmore at 11 a.m., June 28, at Charlie Daniels Park, city officials said. Reach Andy Humbles at ahumbles@ and on X, formerly known as Twitter @ AndyHumbles. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: NASA astronaut's Tennessee hometown names road 'Barry Wilmore Way'
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
What TN native, astronaut Barry Wilmore did with state flag that flew in space 9 months
Tennessee-native Barry 'Butch' Wilmore presented a Tennessee flag to the General Assembly in Nashville that flew during the entirety of the astronaut's recent extended stay in space. The Mt. Juliet High School and Tennessee Tech University graduate was honored by legislators at the House floor session on April 16. Wilmore, who now lives in Texas to be close to the Johnson Space Center in Houston, returned to Earth in March after more than nine months on the International Space Station. 'I'm proud to be a Tennessean,' Wilmore, 62, told lawmakers after the resolution to honor the astronaut was read. 'I will go to my grave as a Tennessean. There is no better state in the Union, and I've lived in several." Wilmore also told lawmakers as he presented the flag: 'It was the only state flag that flew the whole time, the nine months I was up there.' The mission with fellow astronaut Sunita Williams was a test flight as the first human crew for the Boeing Starliner spacecraft. Initial estimates were for a one- or two-week duration. NASA contracted with Boeing to develop a second spacecraft system capable of travel to the ISS, in part to have another option if one isn't operational. However, technical problems with the spacecraft resulted in the extended stay for Wilmore and Williams, as the Starliner returned to Earth without a crew for safety concerns. Wilmore and Williams spent a total of 286 days in space, according to NASA. A resolution read during the session at the Capitol notes that Wilmore "did not waver despite the difficulties inherent in this mission, inspiring the country and the world through his strength and preparedness in the face of unthinkable challenges.' Wilmore's perseverance without complaint through the mission was also recognized. 'Captain Wilmore represents the best of Tennessee, he really does,' state Rep. Ryan Williams, R-Cookeville, said in his introduction to the legislators. Wilmore's father, Eugene, and brother Jack still live in Middle Tennessee, along with a number of friends. 'Barry loves Tennessee and (is) very humbled to be recognized,' Jack Wilmore said. Reach Andy Humbles at ahumbles@ and on X, formerly known as Twitter @ AndyHumbles. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Astronaut gives Tennessee flag that flew in space to state lawmakers
Yahoo
18-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Tennessee can teach American exceptionalism and also end its book ban frenzy
My recent conversation with six Mt. Juliet High School students about book bans revealed something adults should all appreciate: young people are a lot smarter than we think. The students − three Republicans and three Democrats − shared their sincere beliefs during a panel discussion at the school in late January that complements The Tennessean's new series, which launched Sunday, called "Class Disrupted," written by my colleagues, Children's Reporter Rachel Wegner and First Amendment Reporter Angele Latham. The journalists reported that since the Tennessee General Assembly passed the 2022 Age-Appropriate Materials Act, nearly 1,400 books spanning more than 1,100 individual titles have been removed from school libraries across the state. Tomes like "Pinkalicious," "Game of Thrones" and George Orwell's classic "Animal Farm" are banned from at least one county school library. The students I spoke to were more interested in their personal safety at school and mental health needs than in being denied the chance to read a book adults might find controversial or objectionable for whatever reason. "I think people have made such a big deal out of these book bans," said Jackson Sanders, 17, leader of Mt. Juliet High's Young Republicans chapter. "It's now become a big priority in schools, and I just disagree with it. ... I just think there's so many more topics that could benefit people more than just book bans." Jackson is wise for his years, and state elected leaders should heed his message as they consider expanding civics education across the state. See for yourself: Tennessee sees surge in books banned in public schools. Here's which ones and why During his Feb. 10 State of the State address, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee proposed expanding the reach of the Institute of American Civics at the University of Tennessee to K-12 students to "learn about the founding principles that make America the greatest country on earth." 'One way we strengthen tradition is by teaching civics and American exceptionalism,' Lee said. An exceptional part of this nation's design is that we can acknowledge mistakes of the past by amending the U.S. Constitution. Amendments like the 13th (ending slavery), 14th (birthright citizenship) and 15th (voting rights for Black men) would not have been necessary had it not been for the institution of slavery. The 19th Amendment extended the voting franchise to women in 1920 and Tennessee was the pivotal 36th state to ratify it. The 24th Amendment eliminated poll taxes in response to rectifying the institutional racial segregation under Jim Crow laws that kept many Black voters from the ballot box. These reflect an uncomfortable part of history that caused government to adopt laws and policies protecting every American's civil rights and the shot to compete for an equal opportunity. In recent years, the legislature has banned curriculum in K-12 and higher education under the guise of critical race theory and allowed for the banning of books that parents or community members may find offensive or uncomfortable. Opinion: Tennessee school library legislation is a win for parents, despite what critics say In 2021, I wrote a column in response to these efforts, saying: "State-sanctioned erasure of any lesson should bring chills to citizens in a free society, especially as these decisions were made in haste and in response to the politics of the day." How can teachers educate students on complex narratives in history if they are required to omit what actually happened? They must resort then to teach propaganda and fail to satisfy the intellectual curiosity of young minds. At least 11 tomes banned in Monroe County are about the Holocaust. Jan. 27 is Holocaust Remembrance Day and I had the privilege of presenting at Vanderbilt University's We Are Here concert, honoring Holocaust survivors, their stories and their memories through music. This occurred on a private university campus, not a public K-12 school, but it does not mean public school children should be denied lessons on tough topics in history. The state's Social Studies Standards introduces concepts at various grade level regarding slavery, women's rights and the Holocaust, which are necessary for students to get a more comprehensive understanding of history. As federal and state leaders seek to ban discussions or mentions of gender identity, sexual orientation, and diversity, equity, and inclusion, they further erode freedom, which is a fundamental part of American exceptionalism. We should not be about censorship. While parents should have a say in what their children read, avoid blanket bans that punish all children − some whose parents might want them exposed to diverse narratives. 'Is this harming (kids) or is it just something that makes you a little uncomfortable?' said Ava Craighead, 15, Gallatin High School. Another wise observation from a Middle Tennessee student. America and Tennessee need more civics education, but it should be about expanding knowledge not restricting history only to the parts that make our leaders feel comfortable. David Plazas is the director of opinion and engagement for the USA TODAY Network Tennessee. He is an editorial board member of The Tennessean. He hosts the Tennessee Voices videocast and curates the Tennessee Voices and Latino Tennessee Voices newsletters. Call him at (615) 259-8063, email him at dplazas@ or find him on X at @davidplazas or BlueSky at This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee needs fewer book bans, more civics education | Opinion
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Mt. Juliet's Jasmine Paco named The Tennessean Student of the Week for artists
The Tennessean asked schools from across Middle Tennessee to nominate their most artistic students for this week's student of the week feature. We got nominations for painters and sculptors and everything in between, but at the end of the week, there can only be one winner and your votes decide who comes out on top. This week, Jasmine Paco, a senior from Mt. Juliet High School, was the top student in our poll, securing more than 6,500 votes to secure the victory. Paco has always been passionate about art, her nominator wrote. She has always found a connection to all forms of artistic expression and upon entering high school, immediately joined the art club. It and Honors Art 3 have both helped her to experiment with new mediums while expanding her artistic range, the nominator wrote. Paco credits her experiences in the classroom for fueling an interest in continuing her education beyond high school. She hopes to attend college and major in art education, she said. 'I would love to get to be a part of someone else's journey and mentor others, just as my teachers have inspired me,' she said. Each week during the school year, The Tennessean asks Middle Tennessee high school principals, guidance counselors, teachers and staff to send us their nominees for Student of the Week. We then let you, the reader, decide who deserves the title by voting in our weekly poll Next week's poll will launch Monday and it will feature students who showcase the best school spirt. Voting will take place through noon on Thursday, Feb. 20. We believe everyone who gets nominated for our Student of the Week feature is a winner. Here are the other three students who were also in the running for this week's title: Arabella Baldassano, Rossview High School The senior is an artist who is talented in a variety of mediums including painting, drawing, fashion, and fibers. She not only crochets her own clothes but uses them as subject matter in her original paintings and drawings. Baldassano is the founding President of our National Art Honors Society and has just received a Regional Scholastic Art Award. She has received scholarships opportunities from various outstanding art schools throughout the country and her teachers are excited to see what she does next! Bethany N'Dri, Hunters Lane High School She is not only talented, but resourceful and dedicated to service. N'Dri is a member of the JROTC, Cross-Country Team, DECA, and Debate team. She is also enrolled in several art classes and full International Baccalaureate coursework. Ker Deng, Hunters Lane High School Deng is a talented artist whose passion and dedication to their craft has earned them prestigious recognition, including the Scholastic Gold Key Award and the distinguished honor of being an American Visionary Nominee. With an exceptional ability to translate emotion and storytelling into her artwork, Deng consistently produces pieces that captivate and inspire. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Mt. Juliet's Jasmine Paco wins The Tennessean Student of the Week
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Tennessee's Barry Wilmore to return from space after landing on Trump, Elon Musk radar
NASA has mildly accelerated Middle Tennessee native Barry "Butch" Wilmore's return to Earth after an unexpected extended stay in space, a homecoming President Donald Trump wants sooner rather than later. Wilmore, a Mt. Juliet High School and Tennessee Tech University graduate, and crew member Sunita Williams have been at the International Space Station since early June due to spacecraft problems. Their mission was initially estimated for 1-2 weeks. The most recent estimate given for Wilmore and Williams' homecoming was late March. NASA announced Tuesday that it and SpaceX hope to accelerate the target launch to March 12 for the next astronauts to replace the space station's current crew, pending mission readiness factors. The Crew-9 mission astronauts would return to Earth several days after the spacecraft with the Crew-10 astronauts docks at the space station, according to NASA, which noted that the lapse in days would be so the new crew could complete a required handoff period. The return date, estimated at about five days after space docking, could vary based on factors that include weather, a NASA spokesperson said. "We hope and pray that everything will go as planned and all will be safe," Barry Wilmore's father Eugene Wilmore said. President Trump posted on social media in late January that he wants SpaceX owner Elon Musk to 'go get' Wilmore and Williams. Musk responded on X to Trump's request to return the pair 'as soon as possible.' NASA released a statement on Trump's statements. 'NASA and SpaceX are expeditiously working to safely return the agency's SpaceX Crew-9 astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore as soon as practical, while also preparing for the launch of Crew-10 to complete a handover between expeditions," it read. The Wilmore family has not had much discussion on the Trump and Musk information, according to Barry Wilmore's older brother Jack Wilmore. "(We) know that everything will work out in time," Jack Wilmore said. "We are strong in our faith in Jesus, and we are enjoying every day." Barry Wilmore and Williams went to the International Space Station (ISS) on a test mission for the Boeing Starliner. They have been in space more than eight months and the mid- to late March return would push the stay to more than nine months. The Starliner was beset by problems that eventually led to its return to Earth without a crew due to safety concerns. NASA's plan to speed up the Crew-10's space arrival was made along with a decision to use a previously flown Dragon spacecraft instead of a new Dragon spacecraft, which needs a longer processing time, according to the agency. Wilmore and Williams would return alongside SpaceX Crew 9 members Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, who are also at the ISS. Wilmore has emphasized in briefings from the space station that preparation for the unexpected accounts for a vast majority of training for any mission. Wilmore recently completed his fifth spacewalk as he and Williams have been part of research, maintenance and other activities at the ISS during their extended stay. Reach Andy Humbles at ahumbles@ and on X, formerly known as Twitter @ AndyHumbles. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Trump pushes Elon Musk, NASA to get Tennessee's Barry Wilmore to Earth
