SRR Awards over $15,000 in Educational Grants

May 13, 2010

Savannah River Remediation STAR Grant Recipients

Area educators who were recipients of the 2009-2010 Savannah River Remediation (SRR) “Students, Teachers Achieving Results” grants were recognized at a reception May 20. Pictured with Dave Olson (center rear), SRR Deputy Project Manager, were (from left) Suzanne McWaters, Holly Hill Elementary; Alicia Bennett, Mossy Creek Elementary; Tammy Travis, Millbrook Elementary; Paula Simmons, Greendale Elementary; Ellen Cotton, Jefferson Elementary; Michael Berg Martinez Elementary; Margaret Fussell, North Aiken Elementary, and Chasity Archer and Renne Cooke, Greenbrier Elementary. SRR is the liquid waste contractor at the Department of Energy’s Savannah River Site. SRR consist of a team of companies led by URS Corp. with partners Bechtel National, CH2M Hill and Babcock & Wilcox. Critical subcontractors for the contract are AREVA, Energy Solutions and URS Safety Management Solutions.

Aiken, S.C. -- Savannah River Remediation (SRR), the liquid waste contractor at the Savannah River Site (SRS), announced today that 10 area schools have been awarded educational grants totaling $15,314 to recognize and support excellence in teaching.

The grants are awarded directly to area elementary schools to provide funding for innovative approaches to teaching science and mathematics.

“We have schools doing outstanding and exciting things in their classrooms, but many times they are limited in their ability to reach students by a lack of materials and supplies. These grants help teachers provide creative and innovative experiences for their students,” said Jim French, SRR President and Project Manager.

He continued, “As a technology-based company, SRR has a history of supporting education. For the past couple of decades, fewer students have been pursuing math-and science-related careers. If we are to remain competitive, both as a company and a country, we must reverse that trend. Helping teachers excite students about math and science is one way of doing that.”

A team of SRR employees reviewed the grant proposals submitted this year and selected 10 schools to receive the grants.

Among this year’s winning proposals is a project that would introduce students to careers in mathematics, technology, science and engineering through discovery-based, motivational laboratory activities. Another winning application was entitled “Once in a Blue Moon,” where students learn fundamental concepts in space science, such as planet size and distance, Earth’s shape and spin, and gravity, through models, hands-on activities and readings. In another winning proposal, entitled “Newton’s Toy Box,” students will experiment with familiar toys and objects, ask questions and find answers while applying science concepts, including Isaac Newton’s three laws of motion.

A reception will be held May 20, 2010, in Aiken to recognize the grant winners and present their checks. This year’s grant winners are:

SRS is owned by the U.S. Department of Energy. The SRS Liquid Waste contract is managed by SRR, a team of companies led by URS Corp. with partners Bechtel National, CH2M Hill and Babcock & Wilcox. Critical subcontractors for the contract are AREVA, Energy Solutions and URS Safety Management Solutions.

For more information about the STAR grant program, contact Rick Kelley, SRR Public Affairs,
(803) 208-1707 rick.kelley@srs.gov