Students plant Artemis 'moon tree' at Mary W. Jackson Elementary in Hampton

Students and school leaders in Hampton on Nov. 21, 2025, dedicated an Artemis “moon tree” at Mary W. Jackson Fundamental Elementary School, planting a loblolly pine grown from a seed that orbited the moon on NASA’s Artemis 1 mission.

The event brought together Hampton City Schools officials, local elected leaders and community partners including the National Institute of Aerospace, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, NASA and the Virginia Air and Space Science Center. “Bringing this collaborative partnership together with the National Institute of Aerospace, the USDA, the Forest Service, and NASA with Hampton City Schools, it is certainly a great opportunity for our students to learn,” said Dr. Richard Mason, school board chair.

Students Michaela Johnson and Annabelle Rowland told the Artemis story during the ceremony, noting the district’s earlier connection to moon-related plantings: on April 30, 1976, a sycamore grown from an Apollo 14 seed was planted at what is now Albert Patrick Elementary School. “On November 21st, 2025, students from Mary W. Jackson Elementary School planted another special tree, a loblolly pine grown from a seed that orbited the moon on Artemis 1 in November 2022,” the students said in their presentation.

Event organizers framed the planting as both a hands-on STEM opportunity and a tribute to the school’s namesake, Mary W. Jackson, a NASA engineer. The presenter described the moon tree as “a living symbol of exploration, curiosity, and scientific discovery,” and said students had been active in every step of the project, from planting to nurturing the sapling.

During student remarks, several children described their specific roles. One student said their job was pouring soil, calling it “one of the most important parts,” while another described serving on the hoist group that helped lift the tree. “My favorite part was touching the soil,” a student said, reflecting on the experience.

The Mary W. Jackson chorus performed for attendees. School and community leaders in attendance included councilmembers Carolyn Campbell, Michelle Ferraby and Randy Bowman; school board members Jason Samuels and Ann Cherry; Dr. Raymond Haynes, superintendent of Hampton City Schools; Joy Brown, school board attorney; and Melvyn Schiavelli, president and CEO of the Virginia Air and Space Science Center.

Organizers said the sapling will be tended by students and serve as a long-term, visible connection between local education and the region’s history with aeronautics and space science. The ceremony closed with thanks to participants and visitors.

The planting was a ceremonial dedication and did not include formal board action or votes.