Report: Tennessee ranks 42nd for kids' well-being

Associated Press • June 12, 2008 Tennessee still ranks among the bottom 10 states for children's health and well-being, but its high-school dropout rate has improved dramatically, a national report shows. The annual Kids Count report measures each state's progress in 10 areas, including infant mortality, poverty rates, single-parent families, teen death rates and low birth weight babies. This year Tennessee improved to 42nd overall from 43rd. Despite some improvement, Tennessee ranks in the bottom 10 states for infant mortality, low birth weight babies, children living in poverty and teen births, the report shows.But high school dropouts decreased 45 percent between 2000 and 2006 and both the child and teen death rates improved. Only 6 percent of teens in Tennessee left school without getting a diploma compared to 7 percent for the nation. Tennessee's dropout rate ranks 15th in the U.S."Tennessee has implemented good public policies and strategies to improve outcomes for older children, resulting in more children graduating and fewer adolescents dying," said Linda O'Neal, executive director of the state Commission on Children and Youth. Tennessee has received national attention for the quality of its pre-kindergarten programs, but Gov. Phil Bredesen had to trim a planned expansion to the program as part of budget cuts this year. The state has also started providing more pre-pregnancy health programs that make sure women have a proper diet and avoid smoking and using drugs or alcohol. "Tennessee must continue and strengthen significant emphasis on improving preconception maternal health to reduce the number of low birth weight babies and infant death, efforts that take several years before the outcomes are reflected in data reported in the book," O'Neal said

McGavock and Mt. Juliet students receive scholarships from Brandywine Woman's Club

By ANDY HUMBLES ahumbles@tennessean.com 726-5939 • May 21, 2008

The Brandywine Women's club recently announced scholarship awards to Jennifer Prince of McGavock High School and Chelsea Burch of Mt. Juliet High. Pictured left-to-right are Ann Nicks, chairman of the Brandywine Woman's Club scholarship committee, Chelsea Burch, Jennifer Prince and Brandywine Woman's Club president Tammy Edwards

Jennifer Prince of McGavock High School and Chelsea Burch of Mt. Juliet High are each recipients of $1,500 scholarships awarded by the Old Hickory based Brandywine Woman’s Club.

Jennifer was named to the National Honor Society two years, was on the student council for four years. She also participated in Film club, Show Choir and interned at Channel 4 in Nashville as part of an educational prep program.

“Hardworking, positive and involved — these are three words that describe Jenni Prince,’’ said McGavock Advance Placement English instructor Stacey Hinchman.

Challenging classes were also regularly tackled by Jennifer, Hinchman and McGavock foreign language teacher Jeff Hunt stated.

Jennifer is planning to attend the University of Tennessee and major in special education or business.

Chelsea Burch was in the top 5% of her class at Mt. Juliet High and was on the Student Council for three years and participated with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes among other activities and community service work.

Chelsea plans to attend Western Kentucky University and major in Business Management.