Education
Fort Loudoun Electric Cooperative (FLEC) and TVA work together to support community-wide learning about energy efficiency, meet STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) objectives and provide opportunities to develop skills that can prepare students for careers in technical fields.
Teachers in public schools that receive power from a TVA distributor can win STEM grants up to $5,000. In 2022 alone, TVA distributed $1 million, in partnership with TVA retiree organization Bicentennial Volunteers Incorporated and the Tennessee STEM Innovation Network. TVA gives preference to applications covering its primary areas of focus–environment, energy, economic development and community problem solving.
Recent FLEC service area TVA STEM grant recipients in the FLEC service area are Fort Loudon Middle School in 2022 and Sequoyah High School (SQHS) and Loudon High School’s Career and Technical Education Programs in 2021.
SQHS won $5,000 to purchase robots the students used to learn how to program and even showcase those skills in competitions, along with green screen technology and 3-D printers. FLEC’s CEO Jarrod Brackett says, “We are extremely proud of the initiative shown by the teachers and administrators at Sequoyah High School. Sequoyah’s commitment to gaining their Tennessee STEM School Designation illustrates their passion for providing the necessary tools our young people need for future success.”
Schools enrolled in TVA EnergyRight’s School Uplift program receive behavior-based strategic energy management (SEM) training that helps them integrate energy efficiency practices into their daily operations to save energy and money. Schools compete to win grants for infrastructure upgrades to reduce energy costs and improve the quality of the learning environment.
In 2022, Madisonville Intermediate School was chosen to participate in School Uplift. They have even formed a School Uplift Energy Team comprised of teachers and staff to track and manage the program, and to communicate about messaging and activities. They also created an Energy Tribe of student representatives to lead conservation efforts in their respective classrooms.
The Energy Team provided the following statement: “This is a huge opportunity for Madisonville Intermediate School! This yearlong program is designed to help us make smarter energy choices, save money on energy costs, and reduce our impact on the environment. We plan to provide opportunities for the greater school community—parents and caregivers, elected officials, school board members and volunteers—to get involved with our energy saving activities.”
TVA EnergyRight Educational Workshops
Eye Spy Energy Kids’ Workshop
TVA EnergyRight and FLEC partner to bring Spark, Bolt, Zap and their other EnergyRight Monster friends to elementary schools across the community, teaching students where energy comes from, how we use it and ways to save at home. Students can continue the energy-saving fun with their families using Eye Spy Energy Kits.
In the fall of 2022, Madisonville Intermediate School student leaders appointed to the MIS Energy Tribe participated in a virtual Eye Spy workshop.
Energy Evolution High School Workshop
TVA EnergyRight and FLEC are working together to offer engaging, interactive workshops that empower high school students to reduce their environmental impact and lead the next wave of our planet’s energy evolution.
