Y-12 STEM Classroom Grants

In recognition of Engineers Week, Consolidated Nuclear Security is sponsoring science, technology, engineering, and mathematics classroom grants through the Y-12 National Security Complex. By awarding grants, CNS hopes to foster opportunities for teachers to advance STEM activities in the classroom and develop our future workforce. A check for $1,000 will be made payable to the school in which the teacher is contracted in April 2023.

Application process
Applications for the Y-12 STEM classroom grants will be accepted February 20 through March 20, 2023. Teachers who are awarded grants will be notified prior to a media announcement being made by Y-12 National Security Complex.

Eligible applicants are teachers or school administrators in public or private schools, grades K–12, located in Tennessee. Public and private school teachers or school administrators in the following counties may apply: Anderson, Blount, Campbell, Claiborne, Cocke, Cumberland, Grainger, Hamblen, Jefferson, Knox, Loudon, McMinn, Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Rhea, Roane, Scott, Sevier, and Union. Educators who are immediate family members of Y-12 employees are not eligible to apply for or receive a grant.

To apply for a grant, please send an email to Kristin.Waldschlager@pxy12.doe.gov that includes a response to each of the following:

  1. School, address, community and postal code.
  2. Teacher’s name, grade level, e-mail address, and phone number other than school number.
  3. Principal’s name, email address, and school phone number.
  4. Project title, project start date, and project end date.
  5. Project summary (maximum of 500 words): This summary may be used as a project description for our grant adjudication and communication purposes.
  6. Project objectives: Briefly describe the issue your project is designed to address.
  7. Can the outcome of the project be achieved solely with the $1,000 grant monies?
  8. Project participants: Describe the school demographics of the participants.
  9. Number of participants: Estimate the number of students who will benefit from the project.
  10. Project activities and timeline: Indicate the primary types of activities involved in executing the project and the anticipated time of the year when the project will be taught.
  11. Expected results: Describe the expected outcomes, benefits, or results that participants will gain from their involvement in the project.
  12. If a grant is awarded, you will provide photos to of the students participating in the STEM grant project.
  13. Expenses: Provide a budget with quotes for the project.

A well-written application will:
Clearly communicate the project and anticipated results, explain the anticipated student learning outcomes, and outline how the project will deepen students’ understanding of STEM.

Review process
Y-12 engineers will serve as judges and will support efforts to determine the grant winners. They will be screened for any relationships or potential conflicts of interest before the judging process begins. The judges will evaluate the project applications and make recommendations for grant allocations to the CNS senior director of Communications and the Y-12 site manager for final review and approval.

The judges will evaluate the project applications and make recommendations for grant allocations to the CNS senior director of Communications and the Y-12 site manager for final review and approval.

Funding guidelines
Funds will be made payable to the individual school and will be dispersed to the teacher or administrator with adherence to school protocols.

Funds will not be award for individual efforts; sporting events; school trips or transportation; construction or renovation projects or capital campaigns; political, labor, or fraternal organizations; religious organizations directly tied to a place of worship; or chairs, endowments, or scholarships sponsored by academic or nonprofit institutions.

Spending guidelines
All funds should be spent by July 31, 2023, according to the manner outlined here.

Funds may not be used for cash, gift cards, travel, salary, food, furniture, or general office supplies not related to STEM activities. Everything purchased with the grant funds becomes the property of the school or organization and must stay with the school or organization if the teacher who applied for the grant departs.