Pictured l-r:  Amy Tate, TVA Government Relations Manager; Sarah Garrett, Imagine Lab Coordinator; and Paul Henry, NAMS Principal (check presentation)

Pictured l-r: Amy Tate, TVA Government Relations Manager; Sarah Garrett, Imagine Lab Coordinator; and Paul Henry, NAMS Principal

The Tennessee Valley Authority, in partnership with New Albany Light, Gas, & Water, and Bicentennial Volunteers Incorporated (a TVA retiree organization), recently awarded New Albany Middle School, $5,000 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.

“We are happy to continue our partnership with TVA to enhance our STEM offerings in our Imagine Lab,” said Paul Henry, Principal of New Albany Middle School.  “All of our students are fortunate to be able to rotate through the Imagine Lab and be exposed to exciting STEM projects and many career opportunities.”

Across the valley, educators submitted projects large and small, to further their STEM education initiatives in the classroom.  The project New Albany Middle School submitted was titled “Imagine the Possibilities of 3D Printing”.  Through funding from the TVA Mini-Grant, the school will be able to provide additional technology opportunities in the area of Advanced Manufacturing, as well as provide general education teachers the opportunities to use technology to make lessons come alive.

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 teachers 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.