Oak Ridge Today

UT professor tapped to lead national STEM education effort

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Lou Gross

Lou Gross

KNOXVILLE—Part of a national effort to advance science, technology, engineering, and mathematics undergraduate education is being directed by a professor at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.

Three five-day National Science Foundation Ideas Labs—one for biology, one for engineering, and one for geosciences—are being held this month through April 4 in the Washington, D.C., area. Each lab involves participants from various disciplines and backgrounds, as well as prospective employers and representatives of scientific and professional societies. The goals of the labs are to incubate innovative approaches to improve undergraduate STEM education and produce research agendas that address workforce development needs.

A UT press release said Louis Gross, director of the university’s National Institute for Mathematical and Biological Synthesis, will serve as director of the Biology Ideas Lab, to be held March 30 to April 4 in Leesburg, Va. [Read more…]

Altrusa to award scholarships for women

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Altrusa International of Oak Ridge is offering scholarships of up to $1,000 to deserving women to support their pursuit of education and/or training. Two of the scholarships honor former Altrusa presidents and civic leaders, Sarah Ketron and Pat Rush.

Altrusans seek to encourage and support women who are striving to complete their education, search for jobs, and become financially independent. The scholarships also target re-entry students who have returned to college or other training after interrupting studies for work or family, or students who are beginning their education after an interruption between high school and college. “One of the key goals for selection is to award scholarships to those who show significant financial need,” said Janet Swift, chair of the Scholarship Committee. [Read more…]

Honors: Jutta Bangs receives Certified Global Business Professional credential

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Jutta Bangs

Jutta Bangs

Roane State Community College’s Jutta Bangs has been awarded the Certified Global Business Professional, or CGBP, credential by NASBITE International.

Bangs has more than 20 years of experience in the global business industry. She is the director of the Tennessee Small Business Development Center, which assists future and existing business owners with training and confidential counseling. [Read more…]

Roane State to host workshops on applying for USDA grants

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Farmers, ranchers, and rural small business representatives are invited to upcoming workshops on applying for a federal grant that supports renewable energy projects.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Energy for America Program, or REAP, promotes rural economic development by assisting rural business to become more energy efficient. Grant funds can cover up to 25 percent of eligible projects.

Roane State Community College will host two workshops on applying for the grant. Representatives of Lenoir City-based ARiES Energy will prepare grant applications for those interested. [Read more…]

Roane State’s ACE program, MasterCraft showcase carbon fiber part

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ACE Boat

This MasterCraft boat on display at the Downtown Knoxville Boat Show featured a carbon fiber bow cover. (Submitted photo)

Roane State Community College’s Advanced Composites Employment program and boat manufacturer MasterCraft teamed up to demonstrate how composite materials can be used in the boating industry.

One of the goals of Roane State’s ACE program is to promote how composite materials such as carbon fiber can benefit businesses. Tru-Design, a partner in the ACE program, designed and manufactured a carbon fiber bow cover for MasterCraft that was on display at the Downtown Knoxville Boat Show March 6-9.

The carbon fiber bow cover offers consumers a lightweight but strong part.

“The ACE program training is a real benefit for manufacturers in this area,” MasterCraft design engineer Adam Larson said. “The program provides manufacturers with a pool of well-trained individuals with hands-on experience in composite materials.” [Read more…]

Reminder: Second Oak Ridge school calendar survey this evening

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Christopher J. Marczak

Christopher J. Marczak

Parents of students in the Oak Ridge school system will be called this evening for a second opinion poll on a proposed change to the system’s calendar for academic year 2015-2016.

At 6 p.m. today (Thursday), parents will receive a call through the automated Skyward system asking if they want to convert to a “balanced” calendar for all schools or keep the traditional calendar currently used by all but two of the schools in the system. Teachers and other school staff members will be called at 7 p.m. asking for their preferences.

Option No. 1 will be the balanced schedule, which has nine weeks of instruction beginning the first week of August, with two-week breaks in the fall, winter, and spring, and seven to eight weeks off during the summer. [Read more…]

CPD investigates report of stun gun at school

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Information from WYSH Radio

On Monday, the Clinton Police Department investigated a report that a 12-year-old boy was bringing a stun gun to class at Clinton Elementary School.

No stun gun was found, but the student reportedly admitted that he had brought it to class in the past. That student was suspended, and his parents told police they plan to get rid of the stun gun.

The investigation turned up no evidence the device had been used at school, but officers did speak with another student who told them that the stun gun had been used on him at his request because he wanted to see what it felt like.

ORHS Band Concert at Grove Theater Tuesday night

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Oak Ridge High School Band All-East 2014

The Oak Ridge High School Band will play in a rescheduled concert at 7 p.m. today (Tuesday) at the Historic Grove Theater.

The band includes 29 students who earned chairs through auditions to participate in the annual ETSBOA All East Clinic.

“We had the second largest number of band students from any school to participate in the event and had players on flute, B-flat and bass clarinet, bassoon, alto and baritone sax, trumpet, horn, trombone, baritone, tuba, and percussion,” a press release said. “Directors Spence Milligan and Mike Spirko would like to invite you to come enjoy the combined talents of these students and the entire ORHS Band.”

Season ticket holders should note that the date and venue for this concert was rescheduled from February due to weather; bring your tickets! [Read more…]

UT, ORNL part of breakthrough that reduces LED sizes

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2-D LED Light Image

This graphical representation shows the layers of the 2-D LED and how it emits light. (Image courtesy University of Washington)

SEATTLE—University of Washington scientists have built the thinnest-known LED that can be used as a source of light energy in electronics, thanks in part to a breakthrough by researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and University of Tennessee in Knoxville.

The LED is based off of two-dimensional, flexible semiconductors, making it possible to stack or use in much smaller and more diverse applications than current technology allows.

“We are able to make the thinnest-possible LEDs, only three atoms thick yet mechanically strong,” said Xiaodong Xu, a UW assistant professor in materials science and engineering and in physics. “Such thin and foldable LEDs are critical for future portable and integrated electronic devices.”

Most consumer electronics use three-dimensional LEDs, but they are up to 20 times thicker than the LEDs being developed. [Read more…]

School Board, City Council resolve high school debt dispute

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Oak Ridge City Council and Board of Education

A proposal to resolve a dispute over sales tax revenues and high school debt appeared to have majority support during a non-voting joint work session of Oak Ridge City Council and Board of Education on Friday.

Despite opposition from a few residents and municipal officials, the Oak Ridge City Council and Board of Education have resolved a dispute over Anderson County sales tax revenues and debt payments for the $66 million renovation of Oak Ridge High School.

The dispute, which started several years ago, centered on how to use the Oak Ridge school system’s portion of Anderson County sales tax revenues generated by a tax increase approved by county voters in a 2006 referendum. School officials had argued that they could keep their share of the revenues generated in the county outside of Oak Ridge, while city officials had said all the revenues, whether collected inside the city or outside of it, should be used for high school debt payments.

A resolution unanimously approved by the school board in February and the City Council in a 5-2 vote on Monday, March 3, allows the schools to keep its portion of the new Anderson County revenues collected outside the city. However, the resolution spells out how the money has to be spent: on technology enhancements, debt reduction, capital repairs and equipment, and grant matches and innovative educational projects. [Read more…]

Schools seek bids to replace demolished Blankenship bleachers

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Blankenship Field Visitors Bleachers

Declared unsafe, the visitors bleachers at Blankenship Field have been removed, and the project to replace them has been put out for bids.

The visitors bleachers at Blankenship Field have been demolished, and the Oak Ridge Schools are scurrying to replace them by the start of the high school football season this fall.

Project bids are being accepted through March 21, although it’s not clear yet who will pay for the new bleachers and other improvements at Jack Armstrong Stadium. The bids could be considered by the Oak Ridge Board of Education on March 24.

The board could also make a funding decision then, School Board Chair Keys Fillauer told Oak Ridge City Council members during a Monday night meeting. There are a range of options that include city funding, school funding, and donations, among others. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge Masquers performs ‘Guys and Dolls’ this weekend

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Masquers "Guys and Dolls"

The Oak Ridge High School Masquers’ production of “Guys and Dolls” starts Friday, March 7, and ends Sunday, March 9. Pictured above are Maguire James as Nathan Detroit and Emily Bultman as Adelaide. (Submitted photo)

By Gwendolyn Hay


The Oak Ridge High School Masquers are bringing to life “Guys and Dolls,” which will be presented at the Performing Arts Center at Oak Ridge High School from March 7-9. Directed by Dana Wham, the production is an exciting performance by the cast and crew to finish out their fourth season.

This Damon Runyon story takes place in 1950s New York City and follows Sarah Brown, an object of affection for Sky Masterson, a high-rolling gambler. Masterson must get Brown to agree to go on a date with him to win a $1,000 bet placed with Nathan Detroit, a gambler obsessed with the idea of the next game.

“This will not be your regular ‘high school production,’” said Wham, who has been involved in more than 100 shows in the region. She is the former director for the Knoxville Performing Arts Institute and has worked with multiple area theaters. [Read more…]