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april5
Students Learn About First Ladies for 8 th Grade Project
Vernonia Middle School students presented
their 8 th Grade Project on Friday, March 23.
The 8 th Grade Project is similar to the Senior
Project all Vernonia High School students must com-
plete during their final year. The 8 th Grade Project ran-
domly assigned each student a First Lady, which stu-
dents then researched, created a trifold display board,
and presented a speech on what they learned to a small
panel of judges.
Prior to the speeches, the 8 th grade students
hosted an open house where other students and com-
munity members could view the display boards and ask
questions about the projects.
The following is a brief description of some of
the projects.
Sailor Mitchell researched our very first First Lady
Martha Washington. Sailor says Martha was the eldest
of eight children who helped take care of her younger
siblings and was known for her fondness for children.
She was originally married to Daniel Custis with whom
she had four children but she was widowed when she
was just 21. She met George Washington and as First
Lady she hosted
lots of parties and
gatherings. As the
first First Lady she
established
the
guidelines of be-
ing honest, kind,
and having good
manners. She was
also known for
her needlework.
When
George
Wa s h i n g t o n
Sailor Mitchell
passed away Mar-
tha granted all their slaves freedom.
Lanaya Clapshaw studied Abigail Adams. Lanaya
said Abigail is famous for her written correspondence
with husband and President John Adams; John often
sought her advice on political and personal issues,
which is documented in those letters. One of her writ-
ings contains an early mention of women’s rights.
While John was away studying law as a young man she
took care of the family and farm herself. When John
was elected President they lived in Philadelphia, our
nations first capital, and then moved to Washington
D.C. in November of 1800 to be the first First Family
to live in the White House.
Ryan Poetter did his research project on Dolley
Madison, who was First Lady for eight years during
the Presidency of James Madison. She is famous for
saving national treasures from the White House when
the British burned the building in 1814. She was also
known for hosting parties on Wednesdays where she
invited members of both political parties to attend, and
for serving her famous desserts.
Cody Hathcoat studied Rachel Jackson, who was the
wife of Andrew Jackson. Cody says Rachel never ac-
tually served as First Lady because she passed away
following Jackson’s election but two weeks before he
took office. She was known as being very anti-social,
nervous, and shy. She was accused of being an adulter-
ess during Jackson’s campaign, as she married Jackson,
her lawyer, before her divorce to her previous husband
was official. During his term as President, Jackson did
not remarry and had his niece, Emily Donelson serve
in the function as First Lady. Emily died of tuberculo-
sis before the end of Jackson’s second term and so his
daughter-in-law Sarah Jackson filled the role of First
Lady for his final year as President.
Cody Hathcoat
Carly Bergren did her project on the “Lives of John
Tyler’s Wives,” since President John Tyler had two
First Ladies during his Presidency. The first wife, Le-
titia, passed away due to a stroke about a year into his
Presidency. He married Julia about eight months be-
fore the end of his first and only term. Julia was known
for using the press to increase her popularity.
Cassidy Wolfe did her project on Claudia “Lady Bird”
Johnson, First Lady to President Lyndon Johnson. Cas-
sidy said Claudia received her nickname when a nurse
at the hospital said she was “pretty as a lady bird,” and
the name stuck. Lady Bird was known for being hard
working and really enjoyed being in nature. She was
well educated and ran husband Lyndon’s office when
Muffy’s
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he was an officer in the Navy.
Arianna Navarro researched Betty Ford who was First
Lady to Gerald Ford. Arianna says Betty Ford thought
women’s rights were important. As a young woman she
was a dancer and pursued a career in choreography. As
First Lady she was very active in helping people with
addiction issues because she suffered from addiction
herself after being prescribed pain killers for a pinched
nerve in her neck.
Erin Jones studied Nancy Reagan. Erin says her real
name was Annie Francis, but changed her named to
Nancy when she was 16. She met her husband Ronald
Reagan when both were actors. She was diagnosed with
breast cancer and was known for wearing red dresses.
She was famous for her “Just Say No” campaign to get
kids to stop doing drugs and drinking alcohol.
Sadie Gump did her project on Barbara Bush who was
Second Lady when her husband George H. W. Bush
served as Ronald Reagan’s Vice President, before be-
coming First Lady during his one term as President.
She had six children, one who also went on to be Presi-
dent. She was considered “everyone’s grandmom” and
liked to take her children and grandchildren along on
campaign visits. She also helped promote literacy be-
cause one of her sons was dyslexic.
Sky Williams researched Laura Bush, First Lady to
George W. Bush. She was a second grade teacher early
in her career and was known for promoting education
and literacy as First Lady. She was also known for sup-
porting women’s rights and traveled to Afghanistan af-
ter 9/11
to pro-
m o t e
educa-
tion for
young
women.
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