TVA and Bicentennial Volunteers, Inc. (BVI) were recently recognized with a Community Partner Award for their pivotal support of the Red Bank Way Conservancy Project, a hands-on environmental education project completed this spring by students at Red Bank Middle School in Chattanooga.
“We wanted to honor TVA and BVI by presenting them with an award from our ELab at our school. A few students were tasked with the project and added their own touch to our award?they made on 3D printers,” said Caroline Powell, Red Bank Middle School Community School Coordinator.
Red Bank teacher Caroline Powell, at right, presented the Community Partner Award in May to BVI Volunteers to Jackie Smith, Sam Esslinger, Don Johnson, Ken Greene and Tony Giggy celebrating TVA’s ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship, education and collaborative learning across the Valley region.
Throughout the semester, students in Red Bank Middle School’s multigrade Connections program worked together to study local ecosystems, biodiversity and watershed health. TVA representatives from Environment and Stewardship and BVI volunteers partnered with the school to provide guidance, curriculum support and on-the-ground expertise, helping students translate classroom concepts into action.
“For me, it’s important to volunteer for tours so that I can help preserve the strong legacy I participated in during my time at TVA,” TVA retiree Don Johnson said. “I enjoy sharing my experiences with the kids during the Raccoon Mountain tours.”
As part of the project, students conducted habitat observations, collected data on local wildlife and created conservation action plans focused on their own neighborhoods. TVA Watershed team members offered demonstrations, toolkit resources and Q&A sessions that helped deepen students’ understanding of local environmental challenges.
“These kinds of partnerships show students what’s possible when communities invest in their learning,” said Liberty Phillips TVA Communications Consultant. “Just like their recent field trip to Raccoon Mountain, the Conservancy project helped students see how TVA’s work touches their community and how they can play a role in protecting it.”
BVI volunteers also played a central role by sharing their stories of service to the Valley region. Their involvement provided an intergenerational learning experience that educators say made a profound impression on students.
“It means a lot to me to be able to interact with the students and answer the questions they have,” said Tony Giggy, a TVA visitor center field trip guide and TVA retiree. “There is an inner satisfaction knowing that we have, in some way, aided in the education process of these students.”
School leaders noted that TVA and BVI teams helped strengthen not only the curriculum, but also the students’ confidence in exploring STEM pathways. Many students expressed interest in future volunteer opportunities, environmental clubs and potential careers in conservation.
“Our students gain so much from seeing professionals and volunteers model the kind of care and curiosity we want to instill,” sixth grade science teacher Heather Pinion said. “This experience showed them that conservation isn’t just something you read about. It’s something you do – and it’s something our community values.”
The Community Partner Award highlights only one part of TVA’s expanding impact in local schools. From immersive field trips at the four staffed visitor centers to project-based learning partnerships like Conservancy in Action, TVA employees and volunteers continue to empower students to explore science, stewardship and the power of public service.
“This recognition reflects the dedication of our employees and retirees who show up for students in such meaningful ways,” Liberty said. “You never know which moment might spark a lifelong interest. That’s what makes partnerships like this so important.”
