Winners from Knox County are Sandra Welshan, Christian Academy of Knoxville; and (not pictured) Julie Cabbage, South Knoxville Elementary School; image courtesy of UCOR

OAK RIDGE, TN – UCOR has awarded schools across the region more than $27,500 in educational mini-grants to heighten students’ awareness of science-related studies.

The mini-grants, ranging from $500 to $1,000 each, are used to fund science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) projects. This year, 36 projects were selected to receive awards out of more than 60 entries. UCOR has awarded more than $150,000 in mini-grants to local schools since 2012.

“It’s never too early to start thinking about the next generation of workers,” said Ken Rueter, UCOR president and chief executive officer. “The material purchased from our mini-grants provides students with an awareness and appreciation of science careers and will hopefully open their minds to pursuing education in a STEM field.”

The mini-grants are part of UCOR’s community support program, which is focused on four key areas locally: children’s advocacy, education and workforce development, health and wellness, and conservation. Applications were screened and awardees selected using an unbiased selection process.

UCOR, an AECOM-led partnership with Jacobs, is under contract with the Department of Energy (DOE) to clean up East Tennessee Technology Park, a former gaseous diffusion plant that DOE is converting into a private sector industrial park. It also performs cleanup work at other DOE Oak Ridge Reservation locations, including Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the Y-12 Nuclear Security Complex.

Grant winners by county:

Anderson County
• Let’s Invent, Debbie Eckley, Andersonville Elementary School
• Chromebook Charge Up, Stephanie Meredith, Andersonville Elementary School
• Hands-on STEM, Christy Woodruff, Claxton Elementary School
• Survival of the Fittest, Chris Hinds, Claxton Elementary School
• Radiation All Around, Bryan Freeman, Clinton Middle School
• Curriculum Supports, April Meyers, Clinton Middle School
• The Growing Classrooms, Sally Suttle, Grand Oaks Elementary School • Potential and Kinetic Energy: Mass Motion and Speed, Deanna Blackburn, Norris Middle School Campbell County
• Hands On Science/Investigating and Engineering, Linda Collins, Wynn Habersham Elementary School
• Energy, Savanna Kidwell, Wynn Habersham Elementary School
• Watch Me Grow – Lifecycles, Tiffany Logsdon, Wynn Habersham Elementary School
• Growing in Kindergarten, Jamie Walden, Wynn Habersham Elementary School

Hamilton County
• After School Tutoring, Abriana Busbee, Austin Hatcher Foundation for Pediatric Cancer

Knox County
• Mad Scientists Invade SKE, Julie Cabbage, South Knoxville Elementary School
• Renewable Energy, Sandra Welshan, Christian Academy of Knoxville

Loudon County
• Konnecting Robots, Rebecca Edwards, Steekee Elementary School
• Reach for the Stars, Alissa Patterson, Crossroads Christian Academy

Morgan County
• Outdoor Classroom Wireless Weather Station, Erin Miller, Oakdale Schools

Oak Ridge Schools
• Engineering for the Future: Exploring Robotics, Missy McCallen, Glenwood Elementary School
• 3, 2, 1 Robotics, Janie Shanafield, Jefferson Middle School
• Spark Curiosity & Ignite Imagination with Cue, Lisa Buckner, Linden Elementary School

Roane County
• The Cherokee Communicators: School Newscast Project, Pam Cole, Cherokee Middle School
• Let’s Build the Alphabet, Lorie Duggins, Dyllis Springs Elementary School
• Robotics, Becky Efferson, Dyllis Springs Elementary School
• Mobile Stem Station, Carly Harrison, Dyllis Springs Elementary School
• RCS Solar Racers, Pete Goepfert, Midtown Educational Center
• School Wide STEAM Health Fair, Jessica Ariks, Midway Elementary School
• “Who Done It?” - A STEM PBL Unit, Brandi Clifton, Midway Elementary School
• Science Lab Supplies, Mary Coulter, Midway High School
• A STEM Mobile Makerspace Cart, Kim Nickell, Midway Middle School
• Future STEMists, Katie McKee, Midway Middle/High School
• Alternative Building Materials, Sonya Hatfield, Oliver Springs High School
• School Beautification/Landscaping Project, Jason Young, Roane County High School
• Lab Supplies for the Science Classroom, Science 10th & 11th, Jessica Armes, Calvary Baptist School
• Lab Supplies for the Science Classroom, Science 12th, Jessica Armes, Calvary Baptist School

Scott County
• Spectrum Analysis of Metal Ions, Tonya Pemberton, Scott High School