Claiborne High School and Cumberland Gap High School recently were awarded with $5,000 grants by the Tennessee Valley Authority, in partnership with Bicentennial Volunteers Incorporated for a STEM (science, technology, education and math) education project.

Claiborne High School’s large animal science class will partner with PDT Consultants to examine the use of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology in livestock management.  Cumberland Gap High School auto collision repair class will incorporate use of the 3M Total Automotive Sanding System into its classes.  Students will complete these courses with a familiarity of the newest technology available in these areas of the workforce.

“Powell Valley Electric Cooperative congratulates these schools on the continued investment in STEM education,” said Randell Meyers, General Manager of Powell Valley Electric Cooperative.

The grant award is a part of $600,000 in competitive STEM grants awarded to 142 schools across TVA’s service territory. 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.

“This is the second year we offered this program to the entire Valley and we saw a major increase in grant applications this year,” said Community Engagement Senior Program Manager Rachel Crickmar. “There is a demand in the Valley for workforce development through STEM education and I am proud of the way TVA and our retirees are responding to that demand by supporting teachers in the classroom.”

For additional information about the TVA STEM grants and to see a full list of recipients, visit https://www.tvastem.com/