KNOXVILLE, Tenn. ― The Tennessee Valley Authority, in partnership with Bicentennial Volunteers Inc., a TVA retiree organization, is awarding $1 million in grants to more than 30 public school educators in the region.
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 its power from a local power company served by TVA was eligible to apply. Since 2018, TVA/BVI has provided nearly $5 million in STEM grants supporting nearly 600,000 students.
Challenger Elementary in Madison, Meridianville Middle School, and Sparkman Middle School in Madison County were selected.
In Athens and Limestone County, Athens Renaissance School, HEART Academy at Julian Newman, SPARK Academy at Cowart Elementary, Tanner Elementary, and Limestone County Career Technical Center received funds.
Two schools in Crossville received funds – Crossville Elementary School and Crossville Middle School.
In the Florence, Sheffield and Muscle Shoals communities, the schools that received TVA funds are Asbury Elementary School, Florence High School, Forest Hills Elementary, Hibbett Intermediate School, Muscle Shoals High School, Riverhill School, Sheffield City Schools, and Webster Elementary School.
The remaining North Alabama schools receiving TVA grant money are Arab Junior High School, Ider High School, Collinsville School, Fort Payne High School, Henagar Junior High School, Lawrence County Gifted, Plainview High School in Rainsville, St. Bernard Preparatory School in Cullman, R.E. Thompson Intermediate School in Tuscumbia, Russellville Middle School, Sylvania High School, and Waterloo High School.
“TVA is focused on supporting clean-energy technologies and STEM education that helps today’s students develop the skills needed to work in these careers,” said Jeannette Mills, TVA executive vice president, and chief external relations officer. “Innovation is the key to success, and it’s inspiring to contribute to the next generation’s visionaries.”
The competitive STEM classroom grant program is operated in partnership with the Tennessee STEM Innovation Network, managed by the Battelle organization. The program received 458 grant applications this year; 238 were selected for funding.
In 2023, the program will support about 136,000 students across seven states with hands-on STEM activities.
“The Tennessee STEM Innovation Network is honored to partner with TVA in this exciting grant program to further STEM education endeavors across the state,” said Gretchen Brown, operations director. “This opportunity can make a difference for educators and students as they incorporate 21st-century skills and real-world problem-solving.
“It is a privilege to work with this partnership year after year and continue to serve the incredible educators of the Tennessee Valley.”
“Supporting education and ensuring students have a solid STEM background is critical to our children’s future no matter what career path they take,” said TVA Public and Community Engagement program Manager Trina Gallman. “I am proud of the partnerships we have built to help these educators inspire their students through the STEM activities this program will provide.”
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