Ridge View fifth-graders go to Nashville

Ridge View Elementary School’s six fifth-grade classes took a recent action-packed and memorable excursion to the state capital.

Ridge View Elementary School fifth-graders pose with state Sen. Ken Yager and their teachers at the Tennessee State Capitol.

Two chartered buses took the group of students and teachers to Nashville, where they met with state Sen. Ken Yager and toured the Tennessee State Capitol.

The students at the Rockwood school also visited the Tennessee State Museum and had lunch at the Bicentennial Park.

Of particular interest to the students was finding out that Harry T. Burn, a state representative from Tennessee, made the deciding vote in favor of ratifying the 19th Amendment in 1919.

Burn later was president of Rockwood’s First National Bank & Trust, now Regions Bank.

The trip was made possible with contributions from Rockwood 2000, Rockwood Electric Utility, Rockwood Civitan Club, Peggy Evans of Rockwood City Council and Paul Kamikawa.

Since Rockwood 2000 is a non-profit, volunteer organization, it is dependent on fund raising and donations from the local merchants and businesses to realize its goals for Rockwood.

“Being able to contribute to the educational advancement of our young generation has been an objective for Rockwood 2000 for many years,” said Rockwood 2000 President Sue McCutcheon. “We are excited and encouraged that together with our strong community connection we are moving forward in this important and long-needed arena.”

She added, “This is the first year that Rockwood 2000 was able to make such a concentrated effort in educational projects, an area that’s so critical for the future of Rockwood and our entire nation.”