NASHVILLE, Tenn. ― The Tennessee Valley Authority, in partnership with Pennyrile Rural Electric Co-Op and Bicentennial Volunteers Incorporated (a TVA retiree organization), recently awarded Todd County Middle School, $5000 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.
“With this grant, our students will be exposed to possible career paths that are in high demand throughout our nation and world,” said, David Carmichael, TCMS Principal. “At the middle school grade levels, robotics is a natural and very exciting world for our students to explore, and we are thrilled with this opportunity being granted us, allowing our students the chance to interact in such a hands-on approach. This grant will allow us to reach nearly 75% of our students each year for this opportunity.”
Across the valley, educators submitted projects large and small, to further their STEM education initiatives in the classroom.
“The project Todd County Middle School submitted, Bringing Robotics to Life, will enable our STEM class at TCMS to purchase a classroom set of 30 Sphero Bolt bots,” stated Sherry Cawood, TCMS STEM teacher. “This will allow each student in class to explore coding and programing through discovery. The bots will connect to our new student Chromebook laptops, allowing students to explore robotics through a truly individualized and interactive experience. Our STEM class will also receive 3 new IPADS to enhance our robotics program as well.”
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 teacher’s 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.”
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.