CLARKSVILLE, TN – 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.
“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.
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.
Montgomery County
Chapel Hill Christian Academy, $2,500
The Busy Bee Bot Biome Project is a STEAM project that encompasses grades K-5. Students in grades 4-5 will begin using the engineering design process to create a design for a community park that surrounds a creek ecosystem. We will read Creek Critters by Jennifer Keats Curtis to build student’s background knowledge of creek inhabitants. It is our hope to be able to take the students to the park in order to inspire ideas. We will talk about the science that goes into creating and maintaining the area. We will meet a local park ranger while there.
Kirkwood Elementary, $5,000
Kirkwood Elementary will be creating their first ever Junior Solar Sprint Team. These 5th graders will compete against other 5th-8th graders in the district. If the team wins the regional competition, they will have the opportunity to go to Nationals to compete against teams all over the country. They will be creating a solar panel car that runs on an motor. The students will need a track to race the car on to see the progress. Since Kirkwood just opened this fall, we do not have the funds to create a track to help these students adequately prepare for the race. 5th grade students will be creating a wind-power car in the spring. The students will create the car by using materials that would sustain In front of a fan. The students will compete against other the 5th graders in the district. 4th grade will be focusing on how to make the school more “green”. They will be creating different ways to save energy in the school. They will also compete against other 4th graders in the district.
Kirkwood Middle School, $5,000
Program will incorporate a range of LEGO Education materials and curriculum to enable differentiation and foster skills in creative and critical thinking, problem solving, and 21st century competencies. The program aims to integrate hands-on learning experiences that explore various science and math concepts, careers, and community problem-solving through research and design.