The two-year project of Moniaka ’19 focused on pedestrian safety in major Antioch intersection.
by Juanita I.C. Traughber, communications director
Moniaka Bonds ’19 earned her Girl Scout Gold Award this spring and is receiving media attention for the gravity of her work and the impact it has made.
The Gold Award is the highest award that a Girl Scout Cadette can earn. Each project must be no less than 50 hours of work and reflect the scout’s interests, identify needs in the community, and attempt to meet those needs.
For her project, Moniaka focused on crosswalk safety at the intersection of Murfreesboro Road and Pin Hook Road, the site of many accidents. The senior worked with Metro Council and Metro Public Works to have safety signs and interval timers installed at the major intersection. Over the course of two years, she also spoke at community meetings about crosswalk safety as well as produced pamphlets, car decals, and T-shirts.
The Tennessee Tribune, a weekly newspaper written for the African American community, has published an article on Moniaka’s work, and WKRN Channel 2 has expressed interest in broadcasting a feature on her.
Allison Van Konynenburg returns to USN as Interim HS Dean of Teaching and Learning. Taking on additional responsibilities this academic year, Justin Fitzpatrick is now Interim HS Dean for Academic Affairs and Laura Snow is the High School Academic Operations Manager.
Please join us in welcoming to USN: LS Spanish Teacher Connor Mitchell, LS Music Teacher Marisa Frank, LS Learning Support Specialist MacKenzie Grant, Fourth Grade Teacher Alexis Novotny, Second Grade Teachers Cara Bishop and Lindsay Moates, First Grade Teachers Marisa Depke and Molly Roth '10, and Kindergarten Teacher Ellen Haber '00. Also, Naturalist Carrie Riley transitions to LS from the HS Science Department.
USN Mission: University School of Nashville models the best educational practices. In an environment that represents the cultural and ethnic composition of Metropolitan Nashville, USN fosters each student’s intellectual, artistic, and athletic potential, valuing and inspiring integrity, creative expression, a love of learning, and the pursuit of excellence.