NASHVILLE, Tenn. ― The Tennessee Valley Authority, in partnership with Bicentennial Volunteers Incorporated (a TVA retiree organization), recently awarded South Todd Elementary, $5000 for a STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) education project.
The grant award is a part of $580,000 in competitive STEM grants awarded to 161 schools across TVA’s seven-state service territory.
“The materials and lab kits that will be purchased with the STEM grant will allow students to learn about civil engineering, archaeology, and environmental agriculture,” said, Doug Cotton, Principal. “The materials are designed to be used for instruction from kindergarten through 5th grade, so each grade level will get to experience these STEM learning activities.”
Across the valley, educators submitted projects large and small, to further their STEM education initiatives in the classroom. The project South Todd Elementary submitted will allow students to experiment with STEM materials and lab kits to expand student learning in areas of Engineering, Environmental Science, Sustainable Energy, and Archaeology. ‘Farmers and Students Unite’ is the theme of the STES STEM project. Finding ways to connect STEM activities to solve real world challenges is our goal.
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. Schools who receive grant funding must receive their power from a TVA distributor.
“The goal of the program was to help further STEM education across the valley,” said Rachel Crickmar, TVA Community Relations Program Manager. “We knew this program would be popular and competitive and now we’re are looking forward to seeing the impact these projects have.”
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.