More than 500 third-grade students from 11 Greeneville and Greene County schools visited the Nathanael Greene Museum this week to learn about "Growing Up In Greene."

The annual event, now in its 20th year, is a partnership between the museum, Tusculum College Arts Outreach, Youth Builders and the Greeneville and Greene County school systems. Students came to the museum on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

Marilyn duBrisk, director of TC Arts Outreach, served as host, welcoming the children to "your museum."

After the tours, the third-grade winners of a countywide contest for essays, poetry and art received their prizes during an assembly.

Student members of GLAWPIGT (Great Literature is Alive and Well and Playing in Greeneville, Tennessee) recited or read the winning poems, as the young writers basked in the limelight.

The winners of the poem, essay and art contests from each school received $5 for first place, $3 for second place and $2 for honorable mention. Entries were judged by professors and staff members at Tusculum College, duBrisk said.

Robbie Mitchell, professional development coordinator with Greeneville City Schools, told the children about five adults who had grown up in this community and had gone on to achieve success.

She mentioned Dale Alexander, who played baseball as a boy in Greene County and then went on to play against -- and beat -- the legendary slugger Babe Ruth.

Another little boy who "grew up in Greene" named Jim Abshire "loved science," Mitchell said. She said Abshire went on to become a NASA scientist, where he helped design instruments used on the space shuttle.

One little girl "didn't like school," Mitchell said, but had talent in areas other than academics. That little girl, whose name was Park Overall, grew up to be a movie and TV star. Mitchell told the students that Overall may have sat in the same seats in the same gym where the program was held.

One little boy who did like school was Alex Jones, whom Mitchell said especially liked reading. Jones grew up to write for newspapers and write books, and won a Pulitzer Prize as a reporter with The New York Times. Mitchell told the third-graders that for journalists, winning a Pulitzer Prize is as big an honor as winning in the Olympics is for athletes.

Mitchell then asked the students if they ever drank a Pepsi. When nearly all said they had, she said a little boy "who grew up in Greene and sat in the same seats" where the third-graders were sitting, John Compton, went on to become the chief executive for Pepsi in the U.S., Canada and Latin America.

Greeneville Police Chief Terry Cannon and Greene County Mayor Alan Broyles welcomed the students.

Every room in the multi-story museum was staffed, and many of the volunteer museum docents were in costume.

Bill Regan was dressed as President Andrew Johnson. He told the students about some of the highlights of the 17th president's eventful life.

Billie Roberts explained items in an early 20th century general store interior that was painstakingly transported to the museum from the Romeo community.

A hundred years ago, Roberts told the children, Greeneville had mud streets.

Amanda Waddell, with Tusculum College Arts Outreach, was dressed as a Cherokee princess and taught the children some Cherokee words, and explained that the Cherokee also "grew up in Greene."

Angie Clendenon enthusiastically led the children in singing, accompanied by David Norton on guitar, Daniel Norton on banjo, their mother Renae Norton on mandolin and Martha Wiley on dulcimer and violin.

Following are students who were contest winners:

Camp Creek -- Essays; Ginny Mitchell, 1st; Jessica Macon, 2nd; Kayla Barham, honorable mention. Poems: Tommy Gosnell, 1st; Jacob Tullock, 2nd; McKinzie Miller, honorable mention. Art: Jessica Macon, 1st; McKinzie Miller, 2nd; Haley Gaby, honorable mention.

Mosheim -- Essays: Matthew Tullock, 1st, Heather Moore, 2nd; Caleb Ridley, honorable mention. Poems: Adam Hamer, 1st; Zachery Wample, 2nd; Madison Wallis, honorable mention. Art: Douglas Sutton, 1st; Autumn Knight, 2nd; Alonna McNutt, honorable mention.

Hal Henard -- Essays: Natasha Whitfield, 1st; Maggie Graham, 2nd; Shayla Kenney, honorable mention. Poems: Elijah Quick, 1st; Morgan Ashby, 2nd; Josie Ellis, honorable mention.

Nolachuckey -- Essays: Spencer Katerson, 1st; Ashlyn Ricker, 2nd; Katelyn Lancaster, honorable mention. Poems: Peyton Humphrey, 1st; Katelyn Lancaster, 2nd: Ashton McHugh, honorable mention. Art: Jaelyn Collins, 1st; Kelci Cantrell, 2nd, Noah Fillers, honorable mention.

EastView -- Essays: Kelsey Jones, 1st; Tyler Marsh, 2nd; Abigail Beverly, honorable mention. Poems: Maya Davis, 1st; Braelyn Childress, Madison Gwynne, tie, 2nd; Taylor Hayes, honorable mention. Art: Alaina Ferguson, 1st; Meredith Bailey, 2nd; Samuel Hyde, honorable mention.

West Pines -- Essays: Abigail Keys. Poems: Abigail Painter, 1st; Art: Trevor Barrett, 1st; Ashley Morrison, 2nd; Anna Reed, and Abigal Slater, honorable mention.

McDonald -- Essay: Andrew Smith, 1st. Poems: Anna Lawson, 1st; Cheyanne Gratz, 2nd; Sam Lawson, honorable mention. Art: Hannah Gulley, 1st; Lucas Bennett, 2nd; Austin Shepherd, honorable mention.

Baileyton -- Essays: Carrie Weems, 1st; Jada Antonelli, 2nd; Abigail Reed, honorable mention. Poems: Lindsay Gaby, 1st; Loren Starnes, 2nd; Mikaila Chapman, honorable mention. Art: Mikaila Chapman, 1st; Emaline Willis, 2nd; Loren Starnes, honorable mention.

Glenwood -- Essays: Morgan Carter, 1st; Ashley Knight, 2nd; Laura Bustos, honorable mention. Poems: Krislyn Legg, 1st; Art: Sierra Alcott, 1st; Cody Massaro, 2nd; Casey Clendenon, honorable mention.

Tusculum View -- Essays: Jenna Click, 1st; Ally Johnson, 2nd; Haley Brannan, honorable mention. Poems: Haley Brannon, 1st; Hannah Jones, 2nd; Rachel Hensley, honorable mention. Art: Ally Johnson, 1st; Ayame Watanabe, 2nd; Casey Hamson, honorable mention.

Highland -- Essays: Olivia Graham, 1st; Cameron Lane, 2nd; Allison Barner, honorable mention. Poems: Olivia Graham, 1st; Allison Barner, 2nd; Cameron Lane, honorable mention. Art: Tyler Marshall, 1st; Kenzie Holt, 2nd; Cameron Foshie, honorable mention.