On June 18, 2025, a day steeped in space exploration history, High School South proudly dedicated its Artemis I Moon Tree during a heartfelt ceremony attended by over 100 students, staff, District administrators, a NASA educator ambassador, and members of the West Windsor-Plainsboro community. The event coincided serendipitously with the anniversary of Sally Ride’s historic 1983 spaceflight—fitting inspiration as the school celebrated a tree that has journeyed farther into space than any human being.
The Moon Tree, a sweetgum sapling grown from seeds flown around the Moon aboard the Orion spacecraft on NASA’s Artemis I mission in November 2022, was awarded to High School South in September 2024 as part of NASA’s Artemis Moon Tree Program. One of two trees awarded in the district (the other to Dutch Neck Elementary School in March 2025), the tree symbolizes a powerful intersection of science, curiosity, and environmental stewardship.
The ceremony opened with keynote remarks from NASA Educator Ambassador Elana Resnick, who shared the rich history of the Moon Tree program. She traced its roots to the Apollo 14 mission, when astronaut Stuart Roosa brought seeds into lunar orbit. Today, the Artemis generation continues that legacy, with seeds of five different tree species traveling beyond the Moon and returning to Earth, inspiring students nationwide.
“NASA received over a thousand applications from across the country,” Resnick noted. “To have two awarded right here in West Windsor is a testament to the district’s passion for STEM and environmental learning. Stewarding a Moon Tree is a great responsibility—and one NASA believes this community is ready for.”
Following the keynote, Dr. Danielle Buggé, High School South science teacher and lead applicant for the Moon Tree, reflected on the collaborative journey that brought the ceremony to life. “This day has been almost two years in the making and would not have been possible without support from our school district,” she said. “It’s been an incredible journey—from applying for stewardship, to receiving the tree in October 2024 and planting it with Mr. Craig Wilson and the AVID Class of 2026, to this morning’s outreach program at Maurice Hawk Elementary School with Mrs. Jennifer Bridgewater and our AP Environmental Science students. And now, to be here with all of you, dedicating this remarkable tree—it’s the beginning of something lasting that will continue to inspire future generations for years to come.”
Student representatives then unveiled two custom-designed plaques created by Mrs. Caitlin Renner’s Graphic Engineering students—one to be displayed on the tree and another for the school’s interior. The dedication also served as a powerful marker of High School South’s ongoing legacy. As the school celebrated 50 years of graduates this June, the Moon Tree now takes root as both a symbol of the past and a beacon for the future—poised to grow alongside the next generation of learners, dreamers, and explorers.
The WW-P community is invited to visit the tree, located near the Penn Lyle entrance to High School South.
