Oak Ridge Today

Results announced for fundraising 5k run honoring Colton Stout

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Colton Alexander Stout

Colton Alexander Stout

Results are now available for a fundraising 5k run held at the Oak Ridge Marina Saturday morning in honor of a young firefighter and emergency medical technician who died in a car crash in January.

See the results here: Buy the Ticket Results.

The new Buy The Ticket, Take The Ride 5K Run honors the memory of Colton Stout, an EMT-IV/firefighter. It raises money for the nonprofit Colton Stout Scholarship Fund Inc.

Organizers said this year’s event proceeds will be used for two EMT or paramedic certification scholarships to help selected candidates follow their dream and pursue a career in the first responder field. [Read more…]

Greener, cheaper fuel possible thanks to ORNL-UT breakthrough

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Michael Hu

Michael Hu

KNOXVILLE—Sticker shock at the gas pump could soon be a thing of the past thanks to research being conducted by Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.

Among the key components in processing fuels, particularly bio-friendly ones, are the membranes that aid in the process of separating unwanted compositions such as water from the fuel or hydrocarbon from aqueous phase.

“We can help wallets and help profits at the same time,” said Michael Hu, a joint faculty member of ORNL and the College of Engineering’s Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. “If we can improve that separation process it will mean a reduction in cost to make, a reduction in cost to supply, and a reduction in cost to buy.”

The breakthrough technology being brought to life by the research team combines nanotextured pores with superhydrophobic or superhydrophillic—or, in plain terms, super water-repulsing and water-attracting—substances. [Read more…]

Parents, teachers, friends form Friends of Oak Ridge Schools

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A group of parents, neighbors, teachers, and friends have created a new organization that will focus on maintaining a strong school system in Oak Ridge.

The new organization, Friends of Oak Ridge Schools, or FORS, was founded on the idea that a great school system benefits each and every child and also enhances the socioeconomic condition of the city, a press release said.

“We believe a strong school system is important to draw and retain businesses, industries, and new citizens by providing a well-educated, diverse workforce,” said the release, authored by Fernanda Foertter, Linda Gilpin, Donna Butcher, and Jutta Bangs.

The release said Friends of Oak Ridge Schools was started on the knowledge and experience of a similar organization in Support Strong Sumner Country Schools, but FORS has its own mission unique to Oak Ridge. FORS is totally independent of any other group, including Oak Ridge Schools, Oak Ridge Board of Education, and Oak Ridge City Council, the release said. [Read more…]

State sales tax holiday under way

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Information from WYSH Radio

Tennessee’s annual sales tax holiday began at 12:01 a.m. this morning, and it will continue through Sunday, August 3, at 11:59 p.m. There will be no sales tax charged on clothing and school and art supplies that cost less than $100 per item and computers that cost $1,500 or less.

Examples of items that can be bought tax-free during the holiday include: [Read more…]

Sheriff offers back-to-school traffic safety tips

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Anderson County Sheriff's Department Motor Squad

Another school year begins on Monday, August 4, for Anderson County high school students, and the first day of school for all students is Wednesday, August 6.

In a press release, the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department offered tips to make school zones safer and improve traffic safety.

“With school in session, there will be significantly more traffic,” Sheriff Paul White said in a press release. “Pedestrians, buses, and parents all contribute to school zone congestion. Many schools in Anderson County are faced with traffic issues, especially during the first few days.”

White said motorists should have a heightened awareness in and around a school zone. [Read more…]

AP Academy held at Oak Ridge High School

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Oak Ridge High School

Oak Ridge High School is pictured above.

Last week, Oak Ridge High School hosted the AP Academy, a College Board-endorsed Advanced Placement Summer Institute for teachers, led by certified AP consultants.

Now in its 14th year, the academy hosted new and veteran teachers of Advanced Placement courses for a four-day, subject-specific workshop aimed at providing support and training needed to teach AP courses. Teachers came together from schools across the country and as far away as Saudi Arabia to exchange ideas. This year, enrollment was up from 105 to 167 teachers.

Oak Ridge High School boasts an extremely robust AP program, and most of the consultants who led these workshops are former Oak Ridge High School teachers, a press release said. Students who take an AP course and pass an AP exam may earn college credit while still in high school. [Read more…]

Spotlight: Scarboro backpack giveaway

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Scarboro Backpack Giveaway

Pictured above from left to right are Simeko Carter, Kalonji and Kayelon Graham. (Submitted photo)

 

Submitted

Children enjoyed the Scarboro Back Pack Give-A-Way, which was held on Saturday, July 19, at the Scarboro Community Center.

A special thanks to Walmart, as well as community volunteers from the CNC Group, Team Investment, and DJ Dave Anderson who came together to provide a fun-filled event where 100 back packs, filled with school supplies, were given to area children.

Visit the city website at orrecparks.oakridgetn.gov for information on all the Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department programs.

Honors: Hicks named Roane State paramedic student of year

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Terry Hicks Roane State Paramedic Student of the Year

Roane State paramedic student of the year Terry Hicks (center) is congratulated by his mother, Tangiela (left), Dr. Roger Brooksbank with TeamHealth Emergency Medicine (back), and Roane State paramedic program director David Blevins (right). (Photo by RSCC)

 

Terry Hicks of Robbins was named Roane State Community College’s paramedic student of the year.

Dr. Roger Brooksbank with TeamHealth Emergency Medicine presented the award to Hicks during Roane State’s annual Knoxville paramedic program luncheon. Students completing the paramedic program were recognized at the event, which was sponsored by TeamHealth.

Hicks started as a volunteer firefighter. As he worked his way through the ranks, he became interested in pursuing education in emergency medicine.

“It’s been long, committed hours,” Hicks said of the year-long paramedic program. “You have to stay in the books, stay studying, and stay on top of your clinicals. My teachers at Roane State are fantastic. They make sure we are ready, and they do a fantastic job.” [Read more…]

Honors: Mehta awarded Food City scholarship

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Monil Mehta of Oak Ridge was recently awarded a $1,500 Food City Scholarship Award from the Tennessee Grocers Education Foundation.

Mehta was recognized on June 14 at the annual convention of the Tennessee Grocers and Convenience Store Association held at the Music City Center.

A graduate of Oak Ridge High School, Mehta attends the University of Tennessee and majors in biochemistry and molecular  and cellular biology. Monil is an employee at Food City, and he has spent close to 500 hours volunteering in his community with fundraisers and youth outreaches, a press release said.

The Tennessee Grocers Education Foundation presented 148 scholarships this year valued at $161,300 to students in the food industry. Eligible recipients are either employed by TGCSA member firms, or have parents who are full-time employees of a TGCSA member firm.

Roane State professor develops online course he will teach while living under the sea

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Bruce Cantrell

Bruce Cantrell

Roane State Community College biology professor Bruce Cantrell has always wanted to teach a course on living under the sea.

He developed a fascination with the sea years ago while serving in the Navy. Books about undersea exploration line his office shelves. A promotional poster for the famed Jacques Cousteau-directed documentary “World without Sun” hangs on his wall.

This fall, Cantrell will finally have a chance to teach Roane State students about living and working under the sea. And he’ll do it while he actually lives and works under the sea.

Cantrell and faculty member Jessica Fain will live and teach from an underwater habitat for 72 days this fall. While they live in a space the size of a college dorm room submerged about 25 feet, Cantrell and Fain will host weekly shows titled “Classroom Under the Sea.”

The shows, presented in partnership with the Marine Resources Development Foundation in Key Largo, Florida, will feature scientists and explorers and will cover topics such as underwater archeology and ocean exploration. [Read more…]

New elementary, middle school students register next week

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With the exception of students at Willow Brook and the Preschool, all students who are new to Oak Ridge elementary and middle schools need to register at their schools from 9 a.m. to noon Monday, July 28, to Wednesday, July 30, a press release said.

Parents who pre-registered kindergartners in May also need to complete the registration process on those dates.

Registration for new students in grades 9-12 will be made by appointment only. For more information regarding high school registration, contact the registrar at (865) 425-9524.

The information necessary for new student registration includes the following: [Read more…]

Students explore engineering, design during robotics camp

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ORAU Robotics Camp

Marise Wilson, a student at Kenner Discovery Health Sciences Academy in Louisiana and Anna Keim, a student at Knoxville’s West High School, use a robot they created to place tennis balls into a container during a week-long Oak Ridge Robotics Camp presented by ORAU and held at its Center for Science Education. (Photo courtesy ORAU)

A recent week-long robotics camp at Oak Ridge Associated Universities was designed to help excite students about careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, or STEM.

The robotics camp was presented by ORAU and held at its Center for Science Education.

The free day camp allowed teams of middle school students to design, build, program, and test their own robots, a press release said. Students also spent the week competing in various engineering challenges and had the opportunity to speak with robotics engineering research scientists while touring Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s research facilities.

The camp was one of various ORAU-sponsored or administered programs designed to excited students about STEM subjects with the goal of inspiring them to pursue STEM careers, the release said.