Halls High School celebrated a milestone this week with the unveiling of its newly upgraded biology lab, equipped with cutting-edge STEM technology thanks to the efforts of science department chair and biology/anatomy teacher, Abby Rase. After months of mastering new tools like digital microscopes, water distillers, an autoclave, centrifuge machine, oxygen sensors, heart rate monitors, and more, Rase and her team were ready to showcase the lab’s transformation.
In the spring, Rase earned the $25,000 grant by winning ORAU’s 2025 Extreme Classroom Makeover competition, an annual initiative that encourages East Tennessee educators to enhance their classrooms with innovative science, technology, engineering and math resources. With a clear vision for her school’s needs, Rase collaborated with fellow science teachers to select equipment that would elevate the science program and pave the way for future growth.
“Hands-on learning is the best type of learning—especially in a science course,” Rase explained. She had a conversation with her fellow Halls High science teachers to decide what items would make the best investment. “Science technology is a really expensive field. We got together and talked about the needs of our students and the needs of our classes and what equipment we would need to develop our science program. This award is allowing us to grow in ways we couldn’t before.”
From pipettes to dissection specimens, Rase used the money to purchase learning tools that would engage students in every science class at Halls. She’s particularly excited about all the digital upgrades, which means the labs will be more efficient because students won’t even need to worry about input. “They’ll be collecting a lot of data, and now they can load that information directly into their [laptops]. The kids get excited about that stuff, too,” she smiled.
The lab reveal event was attended by ORAU president Meghan Millwood, who emphasized the organization’s commitment to advancing STEM education. “Extreme Classroom Makeover has been a cornerstone program for ORAU for more than 16 years. In that time, we’ve supported more than 30 local schools and invested about $550,000 to enhance STEM education,” Millwood said. “ORAU has nearly 80 years of history in helping to build the scientific and technical workforce, and programs like this allow us to make a meaningful impact on schools, teachers and students.”
The upgraded lab is already sparking new ideas at Halls High. With high enrollment in anatomy and advanced placement science courses, Rase is exploring opportunities to introduce new offerings, such as microbiology, in the coming school year.
Rase encourages other teachers to take advantage of the opportunity provided by ORAU. “If you’re a teacher, I highly recommend applying for this competition. It’s definitely a gamechanger,” Rase said.
The applications for ORAU’s 2026 Extreme Classroom Makeover will be available Nov. 17, 2025, on ORAU’s website. Teachers who work for a public school within 50 miles of Oak Ridge, Tenn., and teach a STEM subject for 3rd through 10th grade are eligible to apply.
