Tennessee High receives TVA grant for STEM programs

BRISTOL, Tenn. (WJHL) — Tennessee High School was awarded a grant from the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) to develop science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education programs, the school announced Thursday.

The grant, awarded to 343 schools across Tennessee, is part of a partnership with the TVA and Bicentennial Volunteers, Inc. that aims to inspire students’ interest in STEM-related fields.

Tennessee High School was awarded $5,000 through the grant.

With the high school’s project, members of the Viking Robotics club and other students will be trained to wire scientific sensors to a small computer called an Arduino, a release from Tennessee High said.

Benji Lewis, a science teacher at Tennessee High, said the sensors can be used in classroom experiments. While the devices are used in physics labs, they can also be created for biology, chemistry and agriculture courses.

“Incorporating these student-built, DIY devices in science classrooms will show students what is possible with STEM and the opportunities in robotics,” Lewis said in a news release. “Agriculture, biology and chemistry classes will benefit from pH meters and temperature sensors, while physics courses will benefit from motion detectors and force sensors.”

Viking Robotics members are setting up and completing initial designs for the scientific instruments this semester, Tennessee High reports. The next phase will offer mini lessons on electric circuits, soldering wire and software coding during club meetings and homeroom Viking Time.

Viking Robotics is free to join and programming experience is not required, Lewis said.

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