Beech Tree News Network

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Valley Authority and Bicentennial Volunteers,  Inc., announced $655,000 in robotics awards for 179 schools and non-profit organizations that  serve youth across the TVA’s seven-state region. The funds can be used to create a new  robotics program or enhance a program that already exists.  

This is the first year for the robotics awards program, which is similar to TVA and BVI’s  long-standing STEM awards. 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.  

“TVA and BVI are working hand in hand to expand the reach of robotics education,  which will help create more opportunities for youth across our seven-state region,” said TVA  President and CEO Don Moul. “Skills in robotics are already required for many careers today,  and we want to equip our future workforce with the tools they need to step into and excel in  those fields.” 

Examples of how the winners intend to use the funding include: 

• At Tupelo Middle School in Mississippi, a teacher plans to take her class on a field  trip to Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn. to see professionals in engineering  and coding and funds will also be used to make participating in the First Lego  League free for all students. 

• In northwest Tennessee, there are plans at Lake County High School to update and  expand their robotics equipment, including purchasing new VEX IQ parts, sensors,  pneumatics kits and additional laptops to improve programming reliability. 

“BVI is proud to partner with TVA to support the robotics award program, which  inspires the next generation of innovators and problem solvers in our region. By empowering  students through hands-on learning and community engagement, we’re helping build a future  where creativity and technology come together to drive progress across the valley,” said  Kathy Black, president of Bicentennial Volunteers, Inc,,

While this is the first year for robotics awards, TVA, BVI and the TVA Retirees  Association have supported robotics programs across the region for many years. The Tennessee Valley Authority is the nation’s largest public power supplier,  delivering energy to more than 10 million people across seven southeastern states.  TVA has one of the most diverse energy systems – including nuclear, hydro, solar,  gas, and advanced technologies. TVA is making significant investments in its power  system toward new generation and transmission.

TVA is a corporate agency of the United States, receiving no taxpayer funding,  deriving virtually all of its revenues from sales of electricity. TVA maintains some of  the lowest energy costs and highest reliability in the nation. TVA’s residential rates  are lower than those paid by over 80% of customers of the top 100 U.S. utilities, and  its industrial rates are lower than those paid by over 90% of customers of the top 100  U.S. utilities. In addition, TVA provides flood control, navigation, and land  management for the Tennessee River system, and assists local power companies  and state and local governments with economic development and job creation. Learn  more at TVA.com. 

A complete list of award winners can be found at tva.com/robotics.