2025 Mini-Grant Recipients

Following is a list of teachers and schools who were selected to receive one of UCOR’s 2025 STEM Education Mini-Grants. UCOR awarded 48 mini-grants across 29 schools totaling $51,250 for STEM-related activities (listed by county):

Anderson

  • Courtney Bass, Norwood Elementary, Cultivating stem in kindergarten through the use of computer science, robots, and animal science
  • Lauren Clowers, Norwood Elementary, Print Your Vision: Funding for Sublimation Success
  • Roslyn Hanson, Norwood Elementary, Promoting Cultural and STEAM Topics in Reading Intervention
  • Ramona Owen, Norwood Elementary, Building Curiosity

Campbell

  • Tiffany Logsdon, Wynn Habersham Elementary, Technology in the Classroom—Bringing Standards to Life

Knox

  • Hana Akimoto, Bearden High School, Gel Electrophoresis Mini One Lab: Who Killed Dr. Ward?
  • Alexandra Boyum, Karns High School, The Chemistry of Silver: Transforming Clay into Jewelry
  • Veronica Cordell, L&S STEM Academy, Freshman Robotics Program
  • Angelia Ford, Bearden High School, Hydroponic Gardening
  • Tim Green, Farragut High School, Cooking up STEM: A Real-World Learning Initiative
  • Andrea Heyrdeys, Bearden High School, Colorimeter Vernier Equipment
  • Jamie Kelly, Green Magnet Academy, Putting the A in STEAM
  • Nathaniel Kenner, West High School, Building Future Engineers: Enhancing Hands-On Machining with a Manual Lathe
  • Kelley Krauss, Karns Elementary School, OZOBOT Basics
  • Charles Lewis, Lonsdale Elementary School, STEM Outdoor Classroom
  • Katie Lusk, Amherst Elementary, The Learning Window: Discovering Birds with STEM?
  • Katie Lusk, Amherst Elementary, Magnetic Minds: Building, Exploring, and Experimenting?
  • Melissa Mink, Karns High School, Gel Electrophoresis Chambers for AP Biology
  • Kristin Williams, Hardin Valley Elementary, Spike LEGO Essentials

Loudon

  • Angela Bright, Philadelphia Middle School, Rev Up Your Skills: Small Engine Repair

Morgan

  • Margie Branstetter, Petros Joyner School, Ramp It Up for STEM!
  • Erica Beene, Wartburg Central Elementary School, Generation Genius Subscription and Materials
  • Kim Neskaug, Wartburg Central Elementary School, Let’s Experiment!

Oak Ridge City

  • Montana Ashley, Willow Brook Elementary, Amplify Learning: Empowering Student Voices Through Classroom Podcasting
  • Sarah Blank, Glenwood Elementary, Rhythm, Riffs, and Real Numbers on the Ukulele: Linking Math and Music Instruction
  • David Scott, Robertsville Middle, Community Garden Rejuvenation Project
  • Janie Shanafield, Jefferson Middle, BrickBot Battle: Middle School Robotics
  • Aimee Shute, Willow Brook Elementary, Kindertown, USA

Oneida Special School District

  • Ashley Billingsley, Oneida Elementary, STEM Learning Lodge

Roane

  • Carly Harrison, Dyllis Springs Elementary, SENSORY STEM: Mobile Sensory STEM Kitchen
  • Michelle Monroe, Kingston Middle, Creating Working Electrical Circuits/Design a Working Flashlight
  • Lindsay Ramey, Midtown Elementary, Come Ride the New Roller Coaster at Tri-Star Park!
  • Kim Von Kaenel, Midway Elementary, How Can We Reduce Bear-Human Conflict?

Scott

  • Tonya Pemberton, Scott High, The Life of an Electron
  • Joy Perry, Huntsville Middle, Weathering Middle School: Enhancing Science Learning Through Hands-On Weather Exploration
  • Jessica Strunk, Huntsville Elementary, Gearing Up for the Future
  • Brandie Wisner, Huntsville Elementary, Classroom Critter Chronicles: Enhancing STEM Education Through Animal Observation

Union

  • Susan Coffey, Horace Maynard Middle, STEM for All
  • Jennifer Smith, Big Ridge Elementary, Virtual Reality Is Out of This World

Stanford Eisenberg Knoxville Jewish Day School

  • Rebecca Dugas, Stanford Eisenberg Knoxville Jewish Day School, STEM Innovations for 2nd Gr: Integrating ELA, History, Math, and Science Through Project-Based Learning
  • Rebecca Dugas, Stanford Eisenberg Knoxville Jewish Day School, STEM Innovations for School Wide K-5: Integrating ELA, History, Math, and Science Through Project-Based Learning
  • Rebecca Dugas, Stanford Eisenberg Knoxville Jewish Day School, STEM Innovations for 2-3: Integrating ELA, History, Math, and Science Through Project-Based Learning
  • Brooke Haskins, Stanford Eisenberg Knoxville Jewish Day School, Exploring Simple Machines: A First Grade STEAM Adventure
  • Brooke Haskins, Stanford Eisenberg Knoxville Jewish Day School, Habitat Exploration: A STEAM approach
  • Nikki Sawyers, Stanford Eisenberg Knoxville Jewish Day School, Rain, Rain, Let Us Save: Rain Barrels
  • Nikki Sawyers, Stanford Eisenberg Knoxville Jewish Day School, Technology in Classrooms
  • Sara Venable, Stanford Eisenberg Knoxville Jewish Day School, Schoolwide STEM Day
  • Miriam Esther Wilhelm, Stanford Eisenberg Knoxville Jewish Day School, Exploring Our Backyard