On May 30 METRO High School in Cedar Rapids celebrated its 50th Anniversary. To commemorate the day, a one-of-a-kind tree planting was a part of the celebration as METRO High School is the recipient of one of NASA's Artemis Moon Trees.
After careful review of hundreds of applications, NASA has selected organizations from across the country to receive ‘Moon Tree’ seedlings that flew around the Moon on the agency’s Artemis I mission in 2022 to plant in their communities. Metro High School was 1 of 50 recipients thanks in large part to Science teacher Kali Muhlbauer.
After planting the Moon Tree with Metro High School students and staff, Mrs. Muhlbauer addressed the community stating, “We hope this tree will fuel STEM education here at Metro, in Iowa and beyond."
Since returning to Earth, the tree seeds have been germinating under the care of the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) Forest Service as NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement’s Next Generation STEM project and the agency’s Office of Strategic Infrastructure’s Logistics Management
Division worked to identify their new homes.
Community members, former staff and alumni were in attendance to celebrate the years of service that Metro High School has provided. The event was a celebration recognizing the efforts of so many who have played an important part in serving the students of Metro High School. Metro teacher Mr. Shannon Ellis ended the ceremony recognizing the next gathering to celebrate 100 years will be under the Sycamore Moon Tree. Congratulations to the students and staff at Metro High School!