UCOR, the U.S. Department of Energy’s cleanup contractor in Oak Ridge, has announced the winners of an education “mini-grant†program.
The UCOR Mini-Grant Program was created to recognize and support excellence in teaching by providing funds to assist teachers for certain projects or curricula. This focus is primarily on science, technology, engineering, and math.
The successful teachers, proposed projects, and schools were:
•      Jason Abercrombie—“Establishment of Basic Biotechnology Infrastructure,†Halls High School
•      Cassie Belcher—“Barn Owls,†Philadelphia School
•      Lynne Berney— “Owl Pellets and Food Webs,†Karns Elementary School
•      Jennifer Borr— “The Science of Sound,†Loudon High School
•      Sandy Buttrum— “iPAD for Teacher/Student Use in Classroom,†North Middle School
•      Holly Christianson— “Hatching Inquiry,†Farragut Primary School
•      Conni Durfee— “Geometric Solids Manipulatives,†Karns Elementary
•      Joe Foy— “Use of Advanced Data Collection Devices to Capture, View, and Analyze Sensor Data in Math and Physics Classrooms,†West High School
•      Leanne Gentry— “Calculators for the Classroom,†Norris Middle School
•      Robbie Herrell/David Humphrey—“Green Construction,†Anderson County Career and Technical Center
•      Nicole Jett—“Differentiated Brightlink Learning,†Claxton Elementary
•      Michelle LaDue— “iPAD Understanding,†Briceville Elementary
•      Meg Law— “Science in Stereo,†Northwest Middle School
•      Tommy Mariner— “Solar Telescope for Naval Science Astronomy Module,†Anderson County High School
•      Vicki McKamey— “Feather Talk,†Grand Oakes Elementary School
•      Kim Meredith/Amber Elkins— “STEM Interactive Software,†Lake City Elementary
•      Rachel Yates Minardo— “Document Cameras to Supplement Brightlink Technology,†Claxton Elementary School
•      Rhonda Phillips— “Animal Classification,†Grand Oaks Elementary
•      Ann Riddell— “Mobi ~ Mobile Interactive Whiteboard,†Grand Oaks Elementary
•      Shannon Smith—, “Microsoft IT and Business Academy,†Anderson County Career and Technical Center
•      Ann Stafford— “One Small Step for Me…One Giant Leap for My Future,†Loudon Elementary School
•      David Tracey— “Math + NSPIRES = SUCCESS,†Clinton Middle School
•      Kelly Raye Williams— “Inquiry Labs for Science Experiments,†and “Math Manipulatives and Visuals,†Lake City Elementary
Schools in Roane, Anderson, Loudon, and Knox counties were eligible to apply.
“We have schools doing outstanding and exciting things in their classrooms, but many times they are limited by a lack of materials and supplies,†said Leo Sain, UCOR president and project manager.
“These grants will help schools provide creative and innovative experiences for their students.â€
Sain said fewer students have been pursuing math and science-related careers in the past few decades.
“If we are to remain competitive, both as a company and a country, we must reverse that trend,†Sain said. “Helping schools excite students about math and science is one way of doing that.â€
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