OAK RIDGE, Tenn — Consolidated Nuclear Security (CNS), the managing and operating contractor for the Y‑12 National Security Complex, has awarded a $5,000 grant to Concord Christian School. The goal of the grant, which was recommended by a group of Y‑12 employees following a review of more than two dozen applications, is to foster advancement of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) activities in the classroom and to help develop Y‑12’s future workforce.

The proposal, submitted by teachers Jeff Evans and Pam DeLorenzo, is to develop a self‑sustaining tabletop aquaponics system with 10th through 12th grade students to demonstrate the value and importance of science in agriculture. Approximately 150 students will be directly involved in the project, and the school’s remaining 1,100 students will learn about the projects through presentations.

Project to spark interest in agriculture and science

The project will make the students aware of the challenges surrounding providing adequate, clean food for the world’s growing population. Through the collaborative use of engineering, biology, and chemistry, a more effective means of food production can be achieved.

Through this initiative, the teachers aim to spark interest in agriculture and science among students by showcasing how interdisciplinary collaboration can lead to more efficient and sustainable food production methods. By fostering a deeper understanding of the intricate relationship between agriculture, science, and engineering, the goal is to inspire the next generation of innovators in the field.

Engineering staff evaluated grants

A team of Y‑12 engineers chose the winning grant from 25 entries.

Susan Kozemko, senior director of Y‑12 Engineering, said, “Awarding a grant like this one makes me proud to support K‑12 classrooms. This is exactly what we should be doing to give back to our communities.”

Project engineer Heather Crawford agreed, “Giving back to our community is extremely important, and a STEM grant may help inspire students to pursue a STEM discipline and be future Y‑12 employees. My mother was an elementary school teacher for 40 years, and I have a deep appreciation and respect for teachers. I am happy that CNS is providing educators a grant to do STEM activities in their classrooms that they may not otherwise be able to afford.”

Regarding what made the chosen grant stand out, Kozemko said, “The project was something being built by the students, and it involved multiple disciplines — engineering, biology, chemistry, and environmental science.”

Development engineer Ben Green was also impressed with the scope of Concord Christian’s proposal. “Personally, I think this out‑of‑the‑box thinking will provide students the opportunity to actively engage in a project that will require design, manufacturing, troubleshooting, and maintenance,” he said. “In the engineering field, working across many different fields is often required in order to complete a task. It was evident to me that this specific grant proposal was the one that most clearly mimicked the teamwork that is often required to get the job done.”

Inspiring students, developing the workforce

“Investing in education is one of many ways CNS works to prepare the workforce of the future,” said Y‑12 Educational Outreach Specialist Kristin Waldschlager. “We also support STEM nights and career fairs at local schools as well as Introduce a Girl to Engineering to expose students to the variety of careers available at Y‑12. We look forward to following this project as it progresses.”