UCOR awards 33 mini-grants for local school projects

Posted at 9:14 pm May 12, 2014
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Leo Sain, president and project manager for cleanup contractor UCOR, pictured in front of part of the former K-25 Building, which is now demolished, in January 2013.

The federal government’s cleanup contractor in Oak Ridge last week announced 33 winners of the UCOR Education Mini-Grant Program in East Tennessee.

One of UCOR’s primary objectives is to support and encourage education initiatives, a press release said. The Mini-Grant Program was designed to recognize and support excellence in teaching by providing funds to assist classroom teachers for specific projects or curricula, focusing primarily on science, technology, engineering, and math, the release said..

UCOR is a partnership between URS and CH2M Oak Ridge LLC.

“Our Mini-Grant Program provides a unique way for teachers to enhance their students’ educational experiences,” said Leo Sain, UCOR president and project manager. “The hands-on projects funded by our program give students a greater insight into today’s science and technology in fun and exciting ways.”

The successful teachers, schools, and proposed projects are:

David Tracey, Clinton Middle School—Visually Enhancing the Graphing Calculator
Adam Chan, Clinton High School—Calculator Based Rangers for Deeper Understanding
William Howard, Clinch River Community School—makeitreallearning (online, cross-curricular learning)
Scot Smith, Robertsville Middle School—Digital Resources for STEM
Shawn Hirt, Midway High School—Handheld Technology for Rural East Tennessee Science Students
Janie Shanafield, Jefferson Middle School—Using Sensors and Motors to Improve Robot Performanc
George Pace, Sunbright School—Elementary Science Lab
Jennifer Carr, Dutch Valley Elementary School—View Finders for Wetlands
Riley Sain, Clinton High School—Using Technology in the Chemistry Laboratory
Leanne Gentry, Norris Middle School—Reading Across the Curriculum
Kathy Heineken, Crossroads Christian Academy—Building a Science Lab
Lucy Brooks, Dutch Valley Elementary School—BrightLink for BRIGHTer learners
Jennifer Dancu, Knoxville Jewish Day School—Indoor Greenhouse Project
Kathryn Brown, St. Mary’s School—3D Modeling
Caitlin Westbrooks, Clinton Middle School—Student Centered Interactive White Board
Kathleen Miller, Glenwood Elementary—Integrating Science and Language Arts
Melanie Carter, Norwood Elementary School—Math and Movement
Adam Trout, Rockwood Middle School—Investigation of Body Systems
Adam Trout, Rockwood Middle School—Measuring/Data Collection, Representation, and Interpretation
Sarah Hagans, Anderson County Preschool—Taking Learning Outside-Combating Nature Deficiency in Children
Jenna Howerton, Clinton Middle School—Compound Light Microscopes in the Classroom
Kelly Williams, Karen Long, Danielle Vance, Lake City Elementary School—Creating a Mountain one “Pebble” at a Time
Kimberly Irwin, Clinton High School—Economic Impact of Technology and Energy
Cassandra Dothard, Rockwood Middle School—How Electricity Works, and Making Electricity Work for US
Shasta Gilliam, Lyndsay Fouse, Matt Cain, Norwood Elementary School—Manipulating Our Way to Exploration Kelly
Kelly Williams, Karen Long, Danielle Vance, Lake City Elementary School—Longing for a Learning Lab
Deborah Eckley, Andersonville Elementary School—Better Technology, Better Scores
Gwen Harrell, Glenwood Elementary—Common Core Math and Science Support
Janis Bishop, Dutch Valley Elementary School—Stem Growth Through Interactive Magazines
Bryan Freeman, Clinton Middle School—Compound Light Microscopes in the Classroom
Maria Orlando Gee, Clinton Middle School—Software for Special Needs
Candace Watson, Clinton Middle School—6th Grade Math Teacher
Katherine McKee, Midway Middle School—Learning Science Hands-On!

Applications were screened and awardees selected using a blind process that prevented members of the selection panel from knowing the names of the teachers or the schools applying. Schools in Roane, Anderson, Loudon, Knox, and Morgan counties were eligible to submit proposals, and each county was represented among the winners.

UCOR plans to continue awarding the mini-grants annually.

UCOR is the U.S. Department of Energy’s cleanup contractor at the Oak Ridge Reservation.

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