KNOXVILLE, TN – The Tennessee Valley Authority and Bicentennial Volunteers, Inc., announced $700,000 in award funding for robotics education at 187 schools and non-profit organizations that serve students across TVA’s seven-state region. A total of 7,431 students will benefit from the investment.
It is the second year that TVA and BVI have partnered for the robotics awards program. “TVA and BVI are deeply committed to expanding access to robotics education across our seven‑state region,” said Interim TVA President and CEO Mike Skaggs. “These hands‑on skills open doors to a wide range of career paths, and we’re focused on preparing today’s students to become tomorrow’s skilled, confident workforce.”
The funding can be used to create a new robotics program or enhance a program that already exists. The Boys and Girls Club of the Golden Triangle in Starkville, Mississippi, is among the winners.
“Award funding will launch and sustain a comprehensive robotics initiative serving 1,005 students in grades 7–12 across Oktibbeha, Lowndes, and Clay counties by supporting equipment acquisition, instructional materials, staffing, and participation in structured robotics instruction, mentorship, and competitive events,” said Grant Development and Special Events Administrator Paulette Ferguson. “This investment will expand equitable access to high-quality, hands-on STEM learning, resulting in improved academic achievement.”
Other examples of how the winners intend to use the funding include:
- The IMPACT Center for Leadership and Innovation in Bowling Green, Kentucky, is in its inaugural school year and said they will use $5,000 to purchase expanded robotics kits, advanced motors and sensors, control systems, fabrication materials, electronics prototyping tools, and additional competition resources.
- Loretto High School in Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, is starting a new robotics program. A $5,000 award will help purchase equipment, kits and other materials.
“Robotics gives students something lasting: the experience of problem-solving under pressure, working as a team and seeing their own ideas come to life,” said Adam Wolcott, BVI director of operations. “BVI is honored to stand alongside TVA in this effort, helping bring robotics programs to schools across the Tennessee Valley.”
Any school or non-profit that receives electricity from a local power company served by TVA was eligible to apply. A complete list of winners can be found at tva.com/robotics. The robotics program is similar to TVA and BVI’s long-standing STEM awards. Applications for this year’s STEM awards are being accepted now through September 15, at tva.com/STEM.
A list of the local winners for Alabama, Tennessee, and Mississippi
Alabama 2,500 Academy for Science and Foriegn Language Middle School Madison Huntsville Utilities
Alabama 2,500 Albertville Innovation Academy Marshall Albertville Municipal Utilities Board
Alabama 5,000 Albertville Intermediate School Marshall Albertville Municipal Utilities Board
Alabama 2,500 Arab Junior High School Marshall Arab Electric Cooperative
Alabama 2,500 Asbury Elementary School Marshall Marshall-DeKalb Electric Cooperative
Alabama 5,000 Boys & Girls Clubs of North Alabama Madison Huntsville Utilities
Alabama 5,000 Bridgeport Elementary School Jackson North Alabama Electric Cooperative
Alabama 5,000 Cherokee Elementary School Colbert Sheffield Utilities
Alabama 2,500 Columbia Elementary School Robotics Team Madison Huntsville Utilities
Alabama 5,000 Deshler Career Technical Center Colbert Tuscumbia Electricity Department
Alabama 2,500 Elkmont High School Limestone County Athens Utilities
Alabama 2,500 Forest Hills Elementary School Lauderdale County Florence Utilities
Alabama 2,500 Hartselle High School Morgan Hartselle Utilities
Alabama 2,500 Hartselle Intermediate School Morgan Hartselle Utilities
Alabama 2,500 Hibbett Elementary School Lauderdale Florence Utilities
Alabama 5,000 Huntsville Junior High School Madison Huntsville Utilities
Alabama 5,000 Julian Harris Elementary Morgan County Decatur Utilities
Alabama 2,500 Julian Newman Elementary Limestone Athens Utilities
Alabama 5,000 L.E. Willson Colbert Sheffield Utilities
Alabama 2,500 Limestone County Career Technical Center – Team 34 Limestone Athens Utilities
Alabama 2,500 Morgan County Tech Park Morgan Joe Wheeler Electric Membership Corporation
Alabama 2,500 Muscle Shoals Middle School Colbert Muscle Shoals Electric Board
Alabama 5,000 Riverhill School Lauderdale Florence Utilities
Alabama 2,500 Rolling Hils Elementary School Madison County Huntsville Utilities
Alabama 5,000 Russellville Elementary School (AL) Franklin Russellville Electric Board
Alabama 5,000 Say Watt Robotics Madison Huntsville Utilities
Alabama 2,500 Skyline High School Jackson County North Alabama Electric Cooperative
Alabama 2,500 St. John Paul II Catholic High School Madison Huntsville Utilities
Alabama 5,000 Tigers Robotics Morgan Joe Wheeler Electric Membership Corporation
Alabama 2,500 West Point Middle School Cullman Cullman Electric Cooperative
Kentucky 5,000 Bowling Green Independent School District
Middle Tennessee 2,500 Creekside Elementary School Williamson Middle Tennessee Electric
Middle Tennessee 5,000 David Crockett Elementary School Lawrence Lawrenceburg Utility Systems
Middle Tennessee 5,000 E.O. Coffman Middle School Lawrence Lawrenceburg Utility Systems
Middle Tennessee 5,000 Ethridge Elementary School Lawrence Lawrenceburg Utility Systems
Middle Tennessee 5,000 Freedom Intermediate School
Middle Tennessee 5,000 Ingram Sowell Elementary School Lawrence
Middle Tennessee 5,000 Lawrenceburg Public Elementary School Lawrence Lawrenceburg Utility Systems
Middle Tennessee 5,000 Leoma Elementary School Lawrence
Middle Tennessee 5,000 Loretto High School Lawrence
Middle Tennessee 5,000 New Prospect School Lawrence
Middle Tennessee 5,000 South Lawrence School Lawrence
Mississippi 2,500 Lawhon Elementary School Lee Tupelo Water & Light Department, City of
Mississippi 2,500 Mantachie High School Itawamba
Mississippi 2,500 Pontotoc Ridge Career & Technology Center Pontotoc Pontotoc Electric Power Association
Mississippi 5,000 Tishomingo County Career and Technical Tishomingo Tishomingo County Electric Power Association
Mississippi 5,000 Tupelo Career Technical Center Lee Tupelo Water & Light Department, City of
Mississippi 2,500 Tupelo Middle School Lee
Media Release/Adam May/TVA Media Relations
