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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Aug. 18, 2005
FY05-62

Teachers Awarded More than $28,000 in ORAU Grants for Science and Math Education

OAK RIDGE, Tenn.—Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU) presented checks to 12 different schools from across Anderson County on Thursday morning in a special ceremony. The grants for math and science projects and supplies were awarded to 10 schools in the Anderson County School System and two schools from the Oak Ridge school district.

Tenn. Gov. Phil Bredesen was also at the ceremony to congratulate teachers and principals for their efforts in the advancement of local education. The governor was in Oak Ridge as the keynote speaker for the CEO Summit on Math and Science Education, which was sponsored by the Tennessee Business Roundtable.

Gov. Bredesen spent time talking with the teachers about education issues, as well as learning more about the projects their grant money will be funding.

Clinton High School Principal Linda Davis and teacher Dr. Whitey Hitchcock accepted a check for $1,200 to purchase a human cadaver for the school's anatomy and physiology lab. The lab is being used more and more as the demand for anatomy and physiology classes has grown from a single class offered in 1998 to three anatomy classes and one physiology class this year.

The Anderson County Career and Technical Center was one of the educational institutions that received funding as part of the 4th Annual ORAU Education Grant program. David Robinson requested $3,800 so that his students can build an electric vehicle for the Electrathon, which is an electric car marathon.

Other schools that received education grants included:

• Andersonville Elementary School
• Briceville Elementary School
• Clinton Middle School
• Dutch Valley Elementary School
• Fairview Elementary School
• Glenwood Elementary School
• Lake City Middle School
• Norwood Elementary School
• Norwood Middle School
• Woodland Elementary School

One of the key missions of ORAU is to enhance excellence in scientific research and education. In addition to the ORAU Education Grant program, ORAU is advancing education through other programs, including:

• the Dollywood Imagination Library program, which provides a book each month for children from birth to age 5 and is in partnership with Gov. Bredesen's "Books from Birth" program. ORAU supports all Anderson County pre-school children in this effort.
• the Volunteers in Education team, which actively supports education throughout the year, and is a sponsor of the 4th Annual Education Grant Program.

Check presentation photographs for each school and additional governor photographs are available by contacting Amy Lakin at (865) 576-3490 or Joanna Wilkins at (865) 576-3353.