For the second summer, middle school students from JT Moore, Oliver, and Croft Design have taken part in FRA’s Summer Innovation Institute, where they work with FRA students and faculty to focus on STEM education using state-of-the-art equipment in FRA’s Innovation Lab. A new initiative this year combines this education with philanthropy as students conceptualize, design, and create items for Shower the People, whose mission is to provide showers to people who may have limited or no access throughout Davidson County.

Our lower school students have been learning about other countries through its first International Event. FRA parents, teachers, and other members of our community who have international experiences came to speak with our students about their respective countries, including Costa Rica, Spain, Zimbabwe, and Hungary.

The Panthers put on a show at the TSSAA Track and Field State Championships, which were held in Murfreesboro. Alexander Gales, Campbell Carroll, and Eric Stoxstill-Diggs were recently crowned state champions in their individual events, 19 members of the team medaled, and the boys team was the state runner up.

Every year, the arts department presents the Frankies, which are given to upper school students who show passion, leadership and study outside of the realm of the classroom. On Wednesday, the 2018 Frankies were given. We also celebrated those seniors who plan to pursue arts in college. Congratulations to all of our talented arts students for a great year!

Franklin Road Academy seniors Sheryl Garcia and Libby Weicker have been selected to receive the Billy Bryan Scholarship, which has been awarded for the past six years thanks to the generosity of Scott Byers in honor of his friend  Billy Bryan.

Congratulations to Jack Arsta, Rachel Brown, Peyton Christian, Bella Daniels, Morgan Davis, Price Jones, Katie Lifsey, Charlotte Munn, Pablo Ramos Soszna, Lorena Silva, Tucker Smith, and Nia Williamson for being named 2018-19 Turner Fellows. These students will be placed with local non-profit organizations that match the mission of FRA and the Turner Foundation, the program's sponsor.

Fifth grade Girl Scouts Claire Perrine, Selah Harding, Mary Katherine McDowell, Taniya Thomas, and Ava Jean Teague recently served in the community as they completed their Bronze project at McKendree United Methodist Church.

On Wednesday, seniors Julianna Alexander, Max Beavers, Elizabeth Day, Laurel Dernbach, Katherine Holman, Claire Luthy, Lily Pierce, Eric Stoxstill-Diggs, Watson Tansil, and Libby Weicker were inducted into Franklin Road Academy’s Cum Laude Society Chapter.

To kick off Mental Health Awareness Month, Franklin Road Academy welcomed songwriter and Belmont University student Caroline Watkins to share her story of mental illness and her journey in becoming mentally healthy with upper school students.

For the second time in as many years, a Franklin Road Academy robotics team is on its way to the VEX Robotics World Championships. Spencer Guy, Garrison Harold, Caleb Huddleston, and Tennent Grace Smith will head to Louisville, Kentucky, to compete against teams from all around the world – a huge feat for a team of three freshmen and a sophomore.