Sevierville Intermediate School students are gaining access to new hands-on STEM learning opportunities thanks to a $27,500 prize awarded through ORAU’s Extreme Classroom Makeover.
The school’s technology lab was transformed through the prize awarded to Logan Woods, Sevierville Intermediate’s computer science teacher and the 2026 Extreme Classroom Makeover grand prize winner. Woods also received the program’s Viewers’ Choice Award, increasing the total funding for the project.
Woods and his students unveiled the upgraded lab during a special reveal event Thursday, showcasing interactive learning stations featuring 3D printers, virtual reality headsets, robotics equipment, a drone, a driving simulator and a smart greenhouse.
“ORAU’s Extreme Classroom Makeover creates opportunities for students to explore STEM through hands-on experiences with emerging technology,” said Meghan Millwood, ORAU president and CEO. “We are proud to support innovative educators like Logan Woods who are expanding opportunities for students while helping strengthen the future workforce in their communities. That commitment reflects ORAU’s mission for the past 80 years to advance science, education and workforce development that helps keep the United States globally competitive.”
As a Title 1 school, Sevierville Intermediate previously did not have access to specialized equipment designed to support integrated STEM education. Woods used the prize funding to expand opportunities for all 720 students he teaches through the school’s computer science program.
“Before we won this prize, there was a lot of showing videos from YouTube,” Woods said. “This year, we have all this brand-new technology. We’re able to show those videos, talk about it, then have a hands-on experience.”
The additions also position Sevierville Intermediate as the only intermediate school in Sevier County with a greenhouse, creating new opportunities for students to explore applied science, sustainability, engineering and agriculture alongside technology-focused instruction.
“I’m able to piggyback off the science general education classrooms,” Woods said. “If they are talking about photosynthesis in the plant cycle, I’m able to collaborate with those teachers and bring that into my classroom and take students to the greenhouse to see the hands-on application. Rather than seeing it in a textbook or on a computer screen, they can go and touch and do the process.”
Woods said the additional equipment has significantly expanded what students can accomplish in the classroom.
“We had one 3D printer for more than 700 students,” Woods said. “There was no way for me to keep up with the printing I needed to do for the number of students I’m instructing. Now, we have seven 3D printers. We can continuously print.”
ORAU worked with Woods throughout the purchasing and installation process to help bring the upgraded learning space to life before the start of the school year.
Now in its 17th year, ORAU’s Extreme Classroom Makeover supports innovative STEM learning environments in East Tennessee schools. Since the program launched in 2009, ORAU has invested more than $550,000 in local classrooms in more than 30 schools.
The applications for ORAU’s 2027 Extreme Classroom Makeover are available now: Extreme Classroom Makeover. 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.