For Immediate Release
Contact: Veronica O’Hearn
veronica.ohearn@ettp.doe.gov
(865) 574-9102
Oak Ridge, Tenn., May 15, 2013 – URS | CH2M Oak Ridge LLC (UCOR) is pleased to
announce 25 winners of the UCOR Education Mini-Grant Program. One of UCOR’s primary
objectives is to support and encourage education initiatives. The Mini-Grant Program was
designed to recognize and support excellence in teaching by providing funds to assist classroom
teachers for specific projects or curricula, focusing primarily on science, technology,
engineering, and math.
“At UCOR, we strongly support education,” said Leo Sain, UCOR President and Project
Manager. “A strong math and science background will help students flourish when they
eventually transition into the work force. Our Mini-Grant Program offers funding for educational
initiatives that enhance students’ knowledge base and provide a rewarding experience.”
The successful teachers, proposed projects, and schools are:
• Beth Adler, “Green Campus,” Oak Ridge High School
• Ben Barrington, “Skills for Manufacturing-Drill Press,” Clinton High School
• Amelia Bell, “Learning Lunch,” Glenwood Elementary School
• Janis Bishop, “Jumping into Science and Math with Interactive Magazines,” Briceville
Elementary School
• Jessica Bray & Cricket Groff, “Junior FIRST LEGO League & FIRST LEGO League,” Grand
Oaks Elementary School
• Dona Mari Clements, “S.T.E.M. Library Resource Enrichment,” Halls Middle School
• Julie Craig, “Probing the Field: Experiments with Magnetism,” Oak Ridge High School
• Catherine DeVillez, “Seedlings Project,” Ridgedale Special Day School
• Madeline Ferguson, “Learning & Serving in the Beaver Creek Watershed,” Powell High
School
• Virginia Fletcher, “Teaching Engineering through Alternative Energy,” Bearden Middle
School
• Marvin Freezell, “Interdisciplinary Collaboration,” Loudon High School
• Jennifer Goins, “Incorporating Common Core into the Classroom for the Super Source
Manipulative Sets and for Mathematics Library,” Anderson County Career and Technical
Center
• Kathryn Hall, “Science Research Building Blocks,” Norris Middle School
• Laicee Hatfield, “Scientific Research Presentations,” Farragut High School
2
• Christy Hicks, “1st Grade Math Flames,” Grand Oaks Elementary School
• Cindy Holmes, “Robotics Team,” Roane County High School
• Jill Hudson & Jane Skinner, “Bringing STEM to Life with 3-D Printing (From Ideas to
Prototypes),” Farragut High School
• Vicki McKamey, “Centered on Science,” Grand Oaks Elementary School
• Stephanie Meredith, “Science Listening Stations,” Andersonville Elementary School
• Rhonda Phillips, “Growing Readers,” Grand Oaks Elementary School
• Katie Ruth, “Hands-on-Robotics,” Midway Middle School
• Connie Miller Simpson, “Virtual Water Project,” Sequoyah Elementary School
• Dara Williams Wade, “Appin’ Not Nappin’, This Isn’t Your Momma’s Kindergarten,” Norris
Elementary School
• Rachel White, “Reduced Friction Collisions Using Air Tracks,” Clinton High School
• Gordon Williams, “Motion Control through PID Controllers in a STEM Classroom,” Oak
Ridge High School
Applications were screened and awardees selected using a blind process that prevented members
of the selection panel from knowing the names of the teachers or the schools applying. Schools
in Roane, Anderson, Loudon, and Knox counties were eligible to submit proposals.
UCOR plans to continue awarding the mini-grants annually.
UCOR is the Department of Energy’s Environmental Management contractor at the Oak Ridge
Reservation. The URS-led team is responsible for deactivation and demolition of the K-25
facility at ETTP, as well as other specific scopes of work at ETTP, the Y-12 National Security
Complex, and the Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
