Updated with more photos: Three Sullivan County schools earn Purple Star awards

BLOUNTVILLE — Three public Sullivan County schools have been recognized for serving students in military families.West Ridge and Sullivan East high schools, along with Mary Hughes Elementary School, have received Tennessee Purple Star School Awards. West Ridge is in Blountville, East near Bluff City and Mary Hughes in Piney Flats.The Tennessee Military Interstate Children's Compact Commission or MIC3 has announced the three schools got the Tennessee Purple Star School Award. They are among 51 schools in Tennessee out of 1843 schools in 141 Districts to receive this award.They are the only 2025 recipients in the Tri-Cities, with the nearest Tennessee schools to receive the awards Ellen Myers Primary School in Claiborne County and Sam Houston Elementary in Maryville.The Tennessee Purple Star School Award was designed to highlight military-friendly schools that show a major commitment to serving students and families connected to our nation's military, according to a news release from Sullivan East.Awardees receive a special recognition to display in their buildings. A school must reapply every two years to maintain the recognition status."This designation is a humble honor yet a responsibility we feel we owe to those students and families that have sacrificed everything to give us the freedom we enjoy everyday," East Principal Andy Hare said in the news release. Tuesday afternoon, the school was dedicated as an award recipient.West Ridge Principal George Laoo could not be reached for comment Tuesday.Retired Marine Major and current JROTC Instructor Chris Fain will serve as Sullivan East's Point of Contact or POC.Schools are eligible for the award if they:● Have a point of contact within the school who has completed a professional development component specific to the needs of military-connected students;● The POC provides information to their school's staff on issues facing their military related learners;● The school website contains a page that provides resources for military families; and● The school then chooses an additional activity that aligns with the school's population and goals.For families, the designation will help guide them to schools that have supports in place.In November 2019, the Tennessee Military Interstate Children's Compact Commission opened applications for the first round of Tennessee Purple Star School Award. The award is presented to a new class each spring.The Purple Star School Award aligns with the components in the Military Interstate Compact. Children in military families experience many challenges: transfers to multiple schools, adapting to new environments or a parent deployed to a war zone.Military connected children have needs that are different from other students. Tennessee has 10,230 children in active duty families and 14,560 in Guard and Reserve families. The compact addresses the key educational transition issues encountered by military families including enrollment, placement, attendance, eligibility and graduation.The compact was adopted by all 50 states and the District of Columbia.Tennessee adopted the compact in 2011 and has 10,230 children in active duty families and 14,560 in Guard and Reserve families.