The Tennessee Valley Authority, in partnership with Bicentennial Volunteers Incorporated (a TVA retiree organization), recently awarded Campbell County High School, $5,000 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 grant will enable us to expand our technology in our STEM program. We will match new 3D printers with new computers to better meet marketplace demands and give our students the full range of technology that will be used in the workplace,””Campbell County CTE Director Robbie Heatherly said.  Across the valley, educators submitted projects large and small, to further their STEM education initiatives in the classroom.

The project Dr. Dwayne Lee submitted fort he CCHS STEM  will allow students to create prototype engine cylinder head designs. The TVA grant will enable student-designed cylinder heads to be 3D-printed full-size then ran on the real engine.

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 that 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 Whnager. “We knew this program would be popular and competitive and now we’re are looking forward to seeing the impact these projects have.”

Neighboring county schools also received STEM Grants; Anderson 7, Claiborne 1, Knox 3 and Scott 1.  A full list of the grant recipients can be found HERE.

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.  (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 04/30/3019-6AM)