Educational Outreach

Many of our educational outreach activities focus on increasing awareness and excitement in science, technology, engineering and mathematics-related activities and applied manufacturing programs. Consolidated Nuclear Security funds these activities through two avenues: corporate giving and our employee driven Community Investment Fund. CNS engagement, corporate contributions, and employee volunteerism led to significant advances in schools robotics' programs, Junior Achievement experiences, and career awareness in engineering, technology, and manufacturing industries.

Signature Projects

FIRST Robotics
CNS plays an active role in strengthening the quality of For Inspiration & Recognition of Science & Technology robotics competitions for individual high-school teams who compete head-to-head on a special playing field with robots they have designed, built, and programmed. Each year, CNS provides corporate contributions to school teams and local competitions while employees volunteer to serve as mentors on local teams.

Junior Achievement's BizTown
CNS became the newest resident at the JA BizTown® by working with JA and the Atomic Trades and Labor Council to create a shop that mirrors the Y-12 mission.

JA Biz Town® provides a simulated city experience to help student's role play a day in the life of a professional. Responsibilities include working as a team, to manage staff, financial resources, inventories, and customers.

Engineering Week
Every year engineering professionals from Y-12 celebrate Engineers Week by visiting local schools and encouraging hundreds of young people to make a difference in the world through an engineering career. Engineering Week was started by the National Society of Professional Engineers to ensure student awareness of engineering and technology careers using real-world examples and education.

Y-12 Hosts Introduce a Girl to Engineering
Y-12 annually hosts female high school students from local schools as part of Introduce a Girl to Engineering. The goal of the event is to inspire girls to pursue careers in science technology, engineering, and math. The event regularly includes a welcome presentation, a hands-on STEM challenge, and several interactive booths. Volunteers from NNSA, NPO CNS, and representatives from professional organizations and educational institutions help at the event.

Dream It. Do It.
CNS partners with the Anderson County Chamber of Commerce for their annual Dream It. Do It. competition. The Dream It. Do It. contest is an initiative aimed at exposing eighth-grade students to manufacturing career pathways using modern-day engagement techniques. Participating industries work with designated STEM or technology teachers and their students to create self-made videos using GoPro cameras answering, "What happens in today's manufacturing?" Videos are posted online for viewing and voting by the community.

Tennessee Science Bowl
The Tennessee Science Bowl is a premier educational event in East Tennessee. CNS continues to be engaged with the science bowl through corporate contributions and employee volunteerism.

Supporting Teachers

In-Service Day at Y-12
More than 20 teachers from across the region registered to spend time with engineers from Y-12 and the Uranium Processing Facility project to better understand employer expectations and how what students learn in the classroom intersects with what is required in the workplace.

3-D Technology Training
CNS engineers support local teachers with 3D technology innovations. These efforts will hopefully spark interest they will pass on to students.

Hosting Students

Career Magnet Academy
Knox County Schools' Career Magnet Academy located at Pellissippi State Community College visited Y-12. More than 40 high-school students were given a tutorial on additive manufacturing. The academy provides students a head start on an associate's degree while attending high school.

Groundhog Day
CNS partnered with Norwood Middle School in Anderson County Schools to "shadow" representatives of labor, the fire department, and security at Y-12. More than thirty students were told about the opportunities and requirements for working at Y-12. The visit was part of a county-wide initiative with other Anderson County industries that involved more than 700-students from fourth through eighth grades.