Chattanooga, TN (April 5, 2021) – The Tennessee Valley Authority, in partnership with EPB and Bicentennial Volunteers Incorporated (a TVA retiree organization) have awarded 10 schools in the Chattanooga area with $36,000 in STEM Grants. This year TVA awarded $800,000 in grants to nearly 200 schools across TVA’s seven state service territory impacting more than 72,000 students.
The competitive STEM grant program, operated in partnership with Battelle, received more than 600 grant applications. Teachers could apply for 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.
“TVA is committed to supporting STEM education to help develop today’s students into tomorrow’s engineers, scientists and IT professionals,” said Jeannette Mills, TVA executive vice president and chief external relations officer. “It’s inspiring to be able to contribute to the innovators of the next generation.”
Chattanooga Central High received $2,500 to teach students how electricity flows by learning to assemble a personal computer and creating a user manual. “Students will learn about thermal compounds, heat transfer, bridging circuits and shorting out the motherboard,” said Central teacher Nathan Dawson. “They’ll disassemble the computer as well. Past students have told me they’ve helped fix a loved one’s PC with this knowledge.”
Other schools that benefitted were: Saint Jude Catholic School received $5,000 to build a solar powered hydroponic greenhouse to grow fruits and vegetables. Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic School received $2,500 for a Weather and Energy Project. Lookout Valley Middle High received $3,500 for a new 3D design project. Calvin Donaldson Environmental Science Academy received $5,000 to teach students to code. Stone Creek Elementary received $1,000 to create a digital kindergarten. Chattanooga Charter School of Excellence received $5,000 for 3D printers. East Ridge Middle received $1,500 for a 3D printer. Ridgeland High received $5,000 to start a robotics club. Lakeview Middle received $5,000 to provide all students in grades 6-8 with the opportunity to participate in computer science courses for the first time.