UCOR awards 33 mini-grants for local school projects

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.