Ralph Askins Elementary School and Lincoln County High School have been awarded $5,000 grants from the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), in partnership with Bicentennial Volunteers, Inc., a TVA retiree organization, to develop STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) projects that spark students’ interests in STEM-related careers.

Teachers across TVA’s seven-state region applied for funding of up to $5,000 through a competitive process, with preference given to applications that explore TVA’s primary areas of focus: environment, energy, economic development and community problem solving. The program awarded $1.5 million to 342 applicants during the past year. Schools receiving grant funds must obtain their power from a local power company served by TVA. Ralph Askins Elementary School and Lincoln County High School are both served by Fayetteville Public Utilities (FPU).

“Fayetteville Public Utilities is honored to partner with TVA to provide local schools with opportunities to further STEM education,” said FPU CEO/General Manager Britt Dye. “Educators create the workforce of tomorrow, and we are excited to assist them with projects to promote innovative thinking, build educational foundations and inspire students to explore careers in STEM fields.”

Lincoln County High School will use its $5,000 grant to support hands-on STEM learning through the school’s upcoming STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) Night and ongoing classroom instruction. According to Marty LeBlanc, engineering and robotics instructor at LCHS, the funding will be used to purchase equipment and materials that will create interactive learning stations for students and families at the event while continuing to support engineering, robotics and STEM classes throughout the year.

“This approach allows us to maximize the impact of the funding by supporting both community engagement and ongoing classroom learning,” LeBlanc said. “STEAM Night provides valuable exposure to STEM opportunities while the equipment continues to benefit students long after the event.”

Ralph Askins Elementary School will use its $5,000 grant to provide hands-on science experiences for fourth grade students through a classroom project focused on ecosystems. According to Lora Beard, Ralph Askins’ fourth grade science and social studies teacher, students will design and create their own functioning terrariums as part of a “Life in a Jar” project that allows them to observe how living and nonliving components interact within a closed environment.

“This grant allows my students to move beyond textbooks and truly experience science,” Beard said. “Many of my students learn best through hands-on activities, and this project will give them ownership of their learning while fostering curiosity, responsibility and critical thinking.”

Since 2018, TVA and Bicentennial Volunteers, Inc., have provided nearly $8 million in STEM awards supporting more than 730,000 students across the region. A full list of grant recipients as well as STEM resources and information on how to apply for a future STEM grant can be found at tva.com/stem.