TVA awards grants

News

Thursday, 12 December 2024 09:56

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.
STEM studies stimulate young minds today and prepare a workforce for the jobs of tomorrow. These lessons — designed by Tennessee Valley teachers for practical use in the classroom — may be formative steps for tomorrow’s doctors, civil engineers, nuclear scientists, computer programmers or robot designers. With a strong foundation in STEM learning, the potential is limitless.

These lessons are also an investment in the future of the Tennessee Valley, which is constantly evolving to become a better place to live, work, and play.

“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, impacting more than 16,000 students. The classrooms will recieve their grant funding this month. This timeline will give teachers the entire spring semester to implement their projects focused on science, technology, engineering and math. 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, Kentucky, 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.

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.”

Local schools awarded this grant included, Collins Intermediate School, Jackson County Schools, Kevin Dukes Career and Innovation Academy, Scottsboro Junior High School, Skyline High School, Stevenson Elementary School, Stevenson Middle School, Fyffe High School, Geraldine High School, Brindlee Mountain, Ider High School and Valley Head High School.