Half-off admission to aquarium for scouts, students
College students, members of scouting organizations and their families can score half-price admission to the Tennessee Aquarium in September.
The discount applies to aquarium tickets and 45-minute IMAX film screenings, as well as combo tickets, purchased before Sept. 30.
To receive the discount, Scouts must wear their uniform, sash or a scouting activity shirt. Scouting staff also are eligible for discounted admission with the presentation of a valid pay stub. College students, staff and faculty members must present their ID, transcript or pay stub.
The discount rates for aquarium tickets are $15 for adults and college students and $9.50 for children, ages 3-12.
Signal Mountain students excel on IB projects
Seven Signal Mountain Middle/High School sophomores outscored other schools worldwide on projects they completed as part of the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program.
The projects, which included a website that matches volunteers to local causes, a model heart and an Egyptian heritage blog, could receive a score of up to a 7.
The average score for students around the world is 3.75. The Signal Mountain students’ average score was 4.53.
“Out of all the IB MYP schools in the world, our students scored higher than a lot of them,” said Melissa Bouldin, Signal Mountain’s IB facilitator, in a statement. “It is a huge accomplishment. … We are so proud of last year’s cohort, and so excited to see what projects this year’s sophomores come up with over the next academic year.”
The seven students are Caroline Cornett, Ethan Fell, Jacob Gravett, Zaria Killingsworth, Maggie Meller, Griffin Mickel and Julia Youssef.
EPB pilots ArtSpark education program
Five Hamilton County teachers and three schools have been selected to compete in EPB’s ArtSpark Goes to School pilot educational program.
Launched in April 2018, ArtSpark is a collaboration of community partners that engages students through STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) education to create artwork for public places while learning about electricity.
The teachers selected include Sherri Heinz of The Howard School, Katie Claiborne and Lacey Jones of Hixson High School, and Chad Burnette and Justin Black of Chattanooga High School Center for Creative Arts.
“Unleashing the power of our students’ creativity and giving our teachers an opportunity to teach real-life professional concepts is one way EPB is supporting our schools,” said Elizabeth Hammitt, EPB director of community & environmental stewardship, in a statement.
EPB’s “ArtSpark Goes to School” program is a partnership among the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and its Southeast Center for the Creative Arts, the River City Company, Hamilton County Schools, Public Art Chattanooga and ArtsBuild.
Students will complete their designs by October 2018, and an independent community panel will determine one winner from each of the five classes. All of the students’ work will be celebrated and revealed during a public event later in the fall.
Science grants available from The Krystal Foundation
The Krystal Foundation is accepting applications for grants supporting local enrichment programs in STEAM, as well as music, sports and culinary arts.
The foundation has previously awarded more than $78,000 to schools in 11 states across the Southeast. The philanthropic arm of the Krystal Company, which was founded in Chattanooga, has previously awarded funds to several schools in the Chattanooga-area including Cleveland Middle School, Brainerd High School and Orchard Knob Middle School.
Grant applications must be received by Oct. 1. The next grant window will open from Nov. 1-Dec. 31. Teachers, principals, school faculty, PTO/PTA groups, and other K-12 school-affiliated organizations are all eligible to apply.
For more information or to apply, visit thekrystalfoundation.com.
WGU Tennessee offers thousands in scholarships
Western Governors University Tennessee is awarding $75,000 in scholarships to students who apply by Sept. 30.
The Back to School scholarship is aimed at adults going back to school and is open to new students in any of the more than 60 bachelor’s and master’s degree programs offered by the online nonprofit university, such as business, information technology, education, and health professions, including nursing. Students can be awarded up to $2,000 each.
“Our mission is to expand access to higher education to more Tennesseans, and particularly working adults who often need financial assistance to get to the finish line,” said Kimberly Estep, chancellor of WGU Tennessee, in a statement. “Scholarships like this are another way WGU is removing barriers for Tennesseans who need to earn bachelor’s or master’s degrees to advance in their careers.”
Scholarships will be granted based on a candidate’s academic record, financial need, readiness for online study and current competency, as well as other considerations, according to a news release.
For more information, visit tennessee.wgu.edu or call 855-948-8495.
STEM School student lands internship with travel company
A Chattanooga student created a new online scheduling program for STEM School Chattanooga.
Rizwaan Abdul-Kadir, a junior at STEM School, created the database, Buk, for his school, which landed him an internship at grassintheroad.com, a local travel business.
The young entrepreneur created the company’s website that provides customized itineraries for clients who travel to Ireland.
“I am a small business owner, and I ran into some problems finalizing the last pages of my website because I did not have the technical skills to accomplish what I wanted to do with the site,” said Mary Lou Mangan–Lamb, owner of grassintheroad.com, in a statement. “I was impressed by Rizwaan’s ability to ask smart questions and to suggest innovative ideas. The STEM School is doing a lot of things right!”
Chattanooga art teacher shares her work with GPS
Former McCallie School and Girls Preparatory School art teacher Mary Baker Carrithers’ work is on display in GPS’s art gallery in the Frierson Theatre lobby through September.
The exhibit, titled “Drafting Table Musings,” was inspired by family trips to Europe and is made up of imagined musings or daydreams of an architect at work at his or her drafting table.
“I am pleased to show my work at GPS, which has always displayed great respect for and encouraged students to participate in the arts,” Carrithers said in a statement. “I am hoping viewers will have their minds stimulated by these paintings while finding many interesting things to explore.”
GPS Fine Arts Department Chairwoman Meg Persinger Brock taught alongside Carrithers and is thrilled to see her former colleague’s new work displayed for current students to enjoy.
“When Mary was here, she raised the bar for the art department at GPS,” Brock said in a statement.
The public is welcome to view the exhibit during school hours after signing in at the front desk at 205 Island Ave.
Educators invited to apply to the 2018 Education Innovator Award
The Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce and Chattanooga 2.0 invite educators to apply for a new Innovation Award recognizing creativity and innovation in Hamilton County classrooms.
The award was created to celebrate local innovation in education. The 2018 Education Innovator Award will be presented as part of the Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce’s Spirit of Innovation Awards on Oct. 24.
“Our teachers are developing the next generation of innovators and creative thinkers. We want to recognize those teachers who come up with new ideas to help their students develop skills that later become a foundation for problem-solving and critical thinking,” said Abby Garrison, executive director for Causeway and volunteer leader of Chattanooga 2.0’s Innovation Action Team, in a statement.
The application deadline is Sept. 14.
Educators can apply on online by visiting chatt2.org/education-innovator-award.