Area schools get STEM grants

Jay FitzOur Town Youth

The Tennessee Valley Authority, in partnership with Knoxville Utilities Board and Bicentennial Volunteers Inc. (a TVA retiree organization), recently awarded five schools in the KUB service territory a grant for a STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) education project.

The grant award is a part of $800,000 in competitive STEM grants awarded to nearly 200 schools across TVA’s seven-state service territory. Across the valley, educators submitted projects large and small, to further their STEM education initiatives in the classroom.

“KUB congratulates all of the schools in the KUB service area that were recipients of the TVA STEM grant,” said Gabriel Bolas, KUB president and CEO. “We appreciate TVA for making this program possible and these educators who support the development of strong young minds in our community that may one day use their STEM passion to provide safe and reliable utilities to our community.”

The competitive grant program provided teachers an opportunity to apply for funding up to $5,000, and preference was given to grant applications that explored TVA’s primary areas of focus: environment, energy, economic and career development and community problem solving as well as pandemic related projects. Schools who receive grant funding must receive their power from a TVA distributor.

“Despite the new challenges, valley teachers faced in 2020, they are still focused on providing the best STEM education possible and have adjusted to new ways of teaching,” said Community Engagement Senior Program Manager Rachel Crickmar. “I am proud of the partnerships we have built with these amazing educators across the Tennessee Valley over the past few years and are pleased to be able to provide some support through this program. Through the grants awarded this year, over 72,000 students will be directly impacted across the valley.”

KUB-related recipients include:

  • Beaumont Elementary School – $5,000
  • Dogwood Elementary School – $3,500
  • Horace Maynard Middle School, Union County – $2,500
  • Mount Olive Elementary School – $2,500
  • Northview Primary School, Kodak – $5,000

Other Knox area schools include:

  • Anderson County: Anderson County High School, Clinton; Jefferson Middle School, Oak Ridge.
  • Blount County: Alcoa High School, Alcoa; Maryville Jr. High School, Maryville.
  • Knox County: Cedar Bluff Elementary and Hardin Valley Elementary schools.
  • Loudon County: Highland Park Elementary, Lenoir City; Loudon High School, Loudon; North Middle School, Lenoir City.
  • Roane County: Cherokee Middle School, Kingston; Coalfield Elementary, Oliver Springs; Midtown Elementary, Harriman; Petros Joyner School, Oliver Springs.
  • Sevier County: New Center Elementary, Sevierville Intermediate School and Sevier County High School, all in Sevierville.

A full list of the grant recipients can be found at here.

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