Kristin Waldschlager, Y-12 education outreach specialist, presents a STEM classroom grant to Gus Ferreira, agricultural science teacher, and Andrew Brown, principal at Central High School. The grant will be used for agricultural science students to build an aquaponics teaching lab that science, math, and other students may use; DOE

OAK RIDGE, TN -- From aquaponics to pneumatics, five schools in East Tennessee will soon be advancing their educational efforts in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) thanks to grants from Consolidated Nuclear Security (CNS), the managing and operating contractor for Y-12 National Security Complex. This month, CNS awarded five $1,000 grants for STEM activities in the classroom and to help develop Y-12’s future workforce.

Grants were awarded to the following schools and projects:
• Central High School, an aquaponics teaching lab;
• Maryville Junior High School, new curriculum in pneumatics;
• Oakdale School, rainwater runoff design challenge; and
• Roane County High School, introducing students to civil and environmental engineering, construction, and computer-aided design to beautify the campus; and
• Wartburg Central High School, creation of a maker space for business and technology. Grant applications accepted to recognize careers in engineering

CNS announced the grant opportunities in recognition of Engineers Week in February. In March, a total of 24 submissions were evaluated by a panel of volunteer engineers at Y-12 National Security Complex. The group carefully reviewed all the applications and narrowed the impressive list down in order to recommend the five winners.

“The creativity and quality of the submissions were exceptional,” said Kristin Waldschlager, Y-12 education outreach specialist. “We appreciate the efforts of our local STEM educators, and we’re thrilled to be able to enhance their efforts through these grants. We look forward to seeing the results of these projects.”

Consolidated Nuclear Security, LLC operates the Pantex Plant, located in Amarillo, Texas, and the Y-12 National Security Complex, located in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, under a single contract for the U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration. CNS member companies include Bechtel National, Inc.; Leidos, Inc.; ATK Launch Systems, Inc.; and SOC LLC. Pantex and Y-12 are key facilities in the U.S. Nuclear Security Enterprise, and CNS performs its work with a focus on performance excellence and the imperatives of safety, security, zero defects and delivery as promised.

For more information on each site, visit www.pantex.energy.gov or www.y12.doe.gov.