Ellen Swallow Richards

On December 3, 2008, 100 counties across North Carolina celebrated Ellen’s Birthday. Union County was the first to send in their story and photos. Sun Valley High School had all three FACS classes meet in the auditorium to hear from guest speakers, role play the history of FACS and the life of Ellen Richards, and view the DVD of Ellen’s Life and Legacy. Afterwards, students discussed the changes over the past 100 years. Piedmont High School celebrated by discussing the history of FACS and watching the DVD and hosted a birthday party with FACS trivia games. We know many Rich Conversations were held throughout these celebrations. We thank Union County for embracing the vision and the mission of the North Carolina Rich Conversations project.  These are FACS teachers from Piedmont High School.

Picture below features Sun Valley High Teachers and their Principal.

 

From Middle Tennessee State University, we headed across the state to Tennessee Tech University at Cookeville.  This time we played in the Backdoor Stage Theater and finally had the feel of a real live stage with lights and all.  As students from the class in the hour before left the theater, we hurridly set up the props, set the lights and were ready for our audience of alumni, friends and Human Ecology students. One special person in the audience was FCCLA student, Duwan who had missed the performance the day before at Middle Tennessee State, so was invited by Human Ecology chair, Sue Bailey to attend this performance.  The reigning Mrs. Tennessee ( a TTU Human Ecology alum) was also in our audience as well as a group of students from University Tennessee, Martin.  Back stage, I did a doubletake when I saw their faculty sponsor and Department Chair, Dr. Lisa LeBleu as I knew they were a long way from home. (over 260 miles away)

PHOTO Courtesy of John Lucas of TTU Photo Services