- More than 130,000 students will benefit from the grants for science, technology, engineering and math projects
- Since 2018, the program has provided nearly $8 million in STEM grants supporting over 730,000 students.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. ― The Tennessee Valley Authority, in partnership with Bicentennial Volunteers Inc., a TVA retiree organization, is awarding a record-tying $1.5 million in grants to educators to develop science, technology, engineering, and math education projects across the Tennessee Valley region. Rhea School in Paris received a $5,000 grant.
“We know STEM teachers across the region are inspiring students to become the workforce of the future and that’s why it’s so important for TVA to continue to support this grant program,” said Jeff Lyash, TVA president and CEO. “Providing additional resources to schools helps provide essential hands-on learning programs that equip students with skills that will help them be successful in whatever they choose to do in life.”
The competitive STEM classroom grant program is operated in partnership with the Tennessee STEM Innovation Network, managed by the Battelle organization. The program received 647 grant applications this year, and 342 were selected for funding. Since 2018, TVA/BVI has provided nearly $8 million in STEM grants supporting over 730,000 students.
“Bicentennial Volunteers, Inc. has a reputation for giving back to the community. BVI is proud to partner with TVA in empowering teachers to provide hands-on learning opportunities for students in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math,” said Kathy Black, president of BVI. “We believe that by enriching their educational experiences, we are helping create lifelong learners and building the workforce of tomorrow.”
Grants are awarded to meet the diverse needs of local communities. For example, University High School in Memphis is using its $5,000 grant to purchase robotic equipment and it will support the school’s dual enrollment-focused STEM career pathways.
At Todd County Middle School in Elkton, Ky, a $5,000 grant will be used to implement a 3D printing project to enhance STEM learning. The program will develop problem-solving and creativity and provide hands-on technical experience.
“This grant will enable us to create hands-on learning experiences where students can experiment, create, and innovate,” said Diane Ashcraft, STEM teacher at Corinth Middle School in Corinth, MS, whose class received a $5,000 grant. “We plan to use the funds to purchase circuit kits, robotic components, and software that will allow them to design and code their own projects. We are excited to see the amazing projects and breakthroughs that emerge from this initiative.”
Grants up to $5,000 were awarded in a competitive process, and preference was given to grant applications that explored TVA’s primary areas of focus: environment, energy, economic development, and community problem-solving. Any school that receives their power from a local power company served by TVA was eligible to apply.
A full list of the grant recipients can be found at www.tvastem.com.
The Tennessee Valley Authority is a corporate agency of the United States that provides electricity for business customers and local power companies serving nearly 10 million people in parts of seven southeastern states. TVA receives no taxpayer funding, deriving virtually all of its revenues from sales of electricity. In addition to operating and investing its revenues in its electric system, TVA provides flood control, navigation and land management for the Tennessee River system and assists local power companies and state and local governments with economic development and job creation.
AREA RECIPIENTS:
Rhea Elementary (Paris), $5,000
This grant will supply elementary STEAM students with new technology, supplies, and design opportunities. With these funds, the school STEAM program will be able to purchase an addition to their current laser cutting machine, materials for our laser design projects, and a large rolling toolbox to promote order and organization during the design process. With these new materials, teachers will be able to implement design challenges with elementary students that will help them to develop the ability to think like an engineer, problem solve, create, and implement design thinking and learning at a very young age. The goal is to eventually be able to create pieces that they can share with families, possibly sell at events, and display during our community art nights.
Houston County High, $3,500
The library has an outdoor space that is not being utilized. In a collaboration project with the Agriculture/FFA teacher, the school plans to implement this space as an outdoor learning area that features sitting areas for classroom instruction, as well as raised garden and flower beds. The students will design and build the raised beds and create a plan to grow the produce. Once grown, the students will harvest the produce and donate to the school for lunch use as well as the local mission to help provide food for those in need.
North Stewart Elementary School, $5,000
Funding will be for the “From School Garden to Home” project. Students will be taught the basics of gardening, tending, and harvesting fruits and vegetables through books, research, and videos. They will be tasked with planting a classroom raised garden bed and taking care of it from beginning to end. They will be given opportunities to taste-test the foods they grow and learn how to prepare what they harvest. To culminate the project, every first grade student will receive a garden bag filled with grow bags, gardening tools, and seeds so they can go home and plan their own gardens.
East Calloway Elementary School, $5,000
A STEM Hub will include several STEM activities and new technology. It will be utilized by all students at the school to increase curiosity, innovation, resilience and collaboration in grades K-5. The HUB will consist of LEGO STEM kits, Chromebooks, and iPads as well as engineering and building manipulatives.
Graves County Central Elementary School, $5,000
This past school year students were introduced to the world of robotics through VEX Go kits. This was a big hit with the students, as they loved to create robots and inventions. Unfortunately, the kits that they were using in the classroom are shared with the other five elementary schools in the district, which meant that our students were only able to use the kits for a few weeks. Many students were disappointed when I told them that we would be sending them on to the next school and that they would have to wait until next year to work with them again. These funds will allow school to purchase their own VEX Go kits so students can work with robotics all year long.
Murray Independent School District, $5,000
The Murray Independent School District will develop the Maker Space and STEM programs at Murray Middle School as well as enhance the Career and Technical Education (CTE) Engineering Pathway at Murray High School. They will purchase a Sphero Blueprint Engineering Class Pack, which would include ten kits designed to engage students in foundational engineering, robotics, and design processes.
North Calloway Elementary, $5,000
School will host a Family STEM Night in which community members, business owners and production specialists from a variety of STEM careers would be present. This event will showcase STEM Careers in our area in an attempt to pique curiosity and help to motivate students to look toward such careers during and after high school graduation. Families will be able to participate in hands on demonstrations, activities and take-home STEM materials to further carry out the STEM skills and concepts they will witness at this event.
TVA photo.