Meet The 2025 Mule Day Queen & Her Court

Issue #397

April 03, 2025

In this What’s Up Columbia issue…

🗓 List of Upcoming Events

🌧️ Columbia’s Weather - Rain/Thunderstorms w/ high of 77 & low of 69

👸 Meet The 2025 Mule Day Queen & Her Court

🎤 Eagleville’s Mattie Pruitt Advances in American Idol’s Hollywood Week

📰 CSCC Awarded National Science Foundation Grant

📌 Today: Kite Adventures Event at Riverwalk Park

🎵 This Week’s Live Music

🗓 Know of Some Local Events Not Listed? Send us the Details!

Upcoming Local Events

🗓 Have an event to add? Send us the Details!

Thursday, April 3rd

Friday, April 4th

Saturday, April 5th

Sunday, April 6th

📌 Mark Your Calendars…

April 1-6: Check Out Our List of Mule Days Garage Sales!
April 11: Cruisin’ the Co-op
April 19: Columbia Cars & Coffee 

Meet The 2025 Mule Day Queen & Her Court

Colbey Fritts is this year’s Mule Day Queen. Colbey is a Columbia native and her mother was actually Mule Day Queen in 1993.

The Queen and her court will make appearances at all Mule Day events, participate in interviews and appearances to promote the event. 

The 2025 Mule Day Pageant was held on February 22nd at the Cherry Theater at Columbia State Community College. Contestants must be 15-21 years of age and a resident or student in Maury County. Cash awards are also given to the Queen and her court. The court consists of 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th runners up. See pictures from the event on the pageant’s Facebook page here and the Mule Day Queen’s Facebook page here.  

First Runner-Up Shae Klamert: I am a Sophomore at Trevecca Nazarene University majoring in Elementary Education. Mule Day has been a part in my life since I could remember! This year I am most looking forward to line dancing at the 4H Center, Saturday night, with my girls! Hope to see y’all dancing with us.

Second Runner-Up Phynlee Ryan Keeling: I am a 15 year old sophomore at Culleoka unit school! I am so excited to be a part of the Mule Day festivities and fun this year!!  A little fact about me is I am very active in many sports, clubs, and more! I look forward to meeting everyone this upcoming week and the mini mule day pageant!!

Third Runner-Up Maya Kathleen Keeton: I am 17 and a Junior at Columbia Academy. A fun fact about me is that I have won second place in my first ever Jump-N-Run (car derby) this past year in my South Central Area Fair reign!!! I am extremely excited to meet everyone and share my love of these amazing festivities! I can’t wait to assist in our Mini Mule Day Pageant!

Fourth Runner-Up Ava Sykes: I am currently a freshman at Columbia State Community College pursing a nursing degree! Mule Day has been special to me and my family since I was little. This year I’m excited to sing rocky top at the bluegrass festival and crown the king mule! Columbia are you ready for the biggest week of the year full of big ears and rears because I sure am!! Happy mule week!

Ava Sykes, Shae Klamert, Colbey Fritts, Phynlee Ryan Keeling, Maya Kathleen Keeton

From Mayor Sheila Butt’s post on Wednesday…

I'm excited to share that the 2025 Mule Day Queen, Colbey Fritts, and the court were in Nashville yesterday to promote Mule Day! 

They began their day at RFD-TV, sharing information about the exciting events waiting for visitors in Maury County from April 3rd to 6th. Additionally, they visited the Tennessee State Capitol to invite our State Representatives to join in the celebration! I would like to extend my gratitude to Rep. Scott Cepicky and Rep. Kip Capley for their support in making this happen!

Eagleville’s Mattie Pruitt Advances in American Idol’s Hollywood Week

Fifteen-year-old Mattie Pruitt from Eagleville continues to impress on American Idol, advancing to the second round of Hollywood Week after delivering a standout performance of Chris Stapleton’s “Cold.”

Pruitt’s soulful vocals and natural talent caught the judges’ attention, with Luke Bryan praising her ability to bring emotion and depth to her performance well beyond her years.

She survived one of the toughest rounds in the competition, where more than half of the 144 contestants with Golden Tickets were eliminated. Now, Pruitt moves on to the next stage, with her next performance set to air on Sunday, April 6.

CSCC Awarded National Science Foundation Grant

Columbia State Community College’s Engineering Systems Technology program has been awarded a three-year National Science Foundation Advanced Technological Education grant. 

The grant project, “Certifying Future Robotics Technicians in Middle Tennessee,” will establish a one-year robotics certificate at Columbia State.

Middle Tennessee State University is also partnering with Columbia State to create 11 robotics modules that will help students be ready for industry certifications. The modules will be divided into three fundamental areas: assembling, programming and troubleshooting. Columbia State will host and teach this new robotics education.

“We are very excited that Columbia State has received this NSF ATE grant,” said Dr. Mehran Mostajir, Columbia State dean of the Business and Technology Division. “Thank you to Richard Urban who serves as co-principal investigator, as well as Dr. Jorge Vargas of MTSU who serves as co-principal investigator. This project would not be possible without their efforts.” 

With nearly $350,000 in funding awarded, the ATE grant program has a strong focus and support for two-year colleges and other higher education institutions. This also marks the first NSF ATE grant awarded to Columbia State.

Courses taught as part of the program will begin in the Fall 2025 semester. Graduates who complete the program will earn nationally-recognized industry certifications, as well as 16 hours of college coursework. Program graduates will be able to go directly into technical industries, while industry partners have also committed to using this program to upskill their current employees. 

MTSU received an estimated $100,000 of the grant funds, which will be used to develop various robotics modules.

“We’re extremely excited to work on this robotics certification project,” said Dr. Jorge Vargas, MTSU associate professor of engineering technology and co-principal investigator. “It’s a matter of developing different modules for this certification mapping. There are different topics or subjects for students to do in the field after they get certified.”

The grant extends research and development through May 31, 2027.

Columbia State representatives who helped secure the grant include Dr. Mehran Mostajir, dean of the Business and Technology Division; Richard Urban, Engineering Systems Technology program director, instructor and principal investigator; Patrick McElhiney, director of grants and development officer; and Daniel Garrett, former Columbia State Engineering Systems Technology program director, instructor and co-principal investigator.

Today: Kite Adventures Event at Riverwalk Park

Soar into fun this Spring Break with Kite Adventures at the Riverwalk Splash Pad Field!

Join us today from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM for an afternoon of outdoor excitement. Bring your favorite kite or simply come to watch as the sky fills with colorful creations. Perfect for all ages to enjoy the fresh air and fun!

When: Thursday, April 3rd, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM

Where: Riverwalk Splash Pad Field

Let’s make the skies come alive—don’t miss out on this kite-flying adventure!

🎵 This Week’s Live Music

Thursday, April 3rd

Jeremy Noble, Maury County Park - Main Stage, 11 AM
Justin Wright, Maury County Park - Main Stage, 3 PM
Jason Passmore, Maury County Park - Main Stage, 4 PM
Kirbi, Maury County Park - Main Stage, 5 PM
Troy Castelland, Puckett’s, 6-7:30 PM
Thomas Waves, Rebel Bar & Grill, 6 PM
Todd Ciprian, Tito's Spring Hill, 6-9 PM
Grasskickers, Columbia Central High School, 7 PM

Friday, April 4th

Gospel Mule, Maury County Park - Main Stage, 12 PM
Justin Wright, Maury County Park - Main Stage 3 PM
Kirbi, Maury County Park - Main Stage, 4 PM
Jason Passmore, Maury County Park  - Main Stage, 5 PM
Tony Malugin, Ridley 4-H Center, 6 PM
Rob Harris, Tito’s, Spring Hill, 6-8 PM
Box of Rox, Grinder's Switch, 7-9 PM
Scott Southworth & The Honky Tonk Anonymous Band, Puckett’s, 7:30-9 PM
Kings of Queen, The Mulehouse, 8 PM

Saturday, April 5th

Jason Passmore, Maury County Park - Main Stage, 11 AM
The Sun Bodies, Maury County Park - Main, Stage, 12 PM
MFT, Los Swamp Monsters & Chris Turner, Rebel Bar &  Grill, 12 PM
Nick Bentley, Grinder's Switch, 12 PM
Crossbridges, Amber Falls Winery, 3-7 PM
Clayton Q, Maury County Park - Main Stage, 4 PM
Ryan Keeler, Buck and Board, 5-8 PM
Alyssa Turner, BAD Bakery, 5-7 PM
Savannah Kirby, Maury County Park - Main Stage, 5:30 PM
Cord Martin, The Mulehouse, 7:30 PM
Karly & James, Puckett's 7:30-9 PM

Sunday, April 6th

Jay Hoppus, Puckett’s, 6-7:30 PM

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