Oak Ridge Public Schools Education Foundation

About Oak Ridge Public Schools Education Foundation

The Oak Ridge Public Schools Education Foundation’s largest recent grant was $120,045 to Oak Ridge Schools for Wildcat Works Manufacturing, a student-run advanced manufacturing program at Oak Ridge High School. That grant reflects the foundation’s emphasis on hands-on learning that connects classroom work with college credit opportunities and workforce development experience. Another $120,045 grant supported the Giants Statues project at Oak Ridge County Schools, showing that the foundation also backs school-linked public art and placemaking in its community. Across its recent awards, the foundation supports K-12 education, STEM education, advanced manufacturing, teacher professional development, scholarships, and international exchange. Its grants also reach the student level and the educator level, with support for teacher grants, student scholarships, and STEM programs such as FIRST Robotics. The foundation’s active programs include educator grants, a scholarship for Oak Ridge High School and Secret City Academy graduates, a study-abroad and exchange scholarship, and a fellowship for innovative teaching. The pattern points to a local education funder focused on enriching Oak Ridge Schools beyond the regular public-school budget while supporting both student pathways and educator innovation.

What Oak Ridge Public Schools Education Foundation Funds

Workforce development is a clear thread in the foundation’s giving. It awarded $120,045 to Oak Ridge Schools for Wildcat Works Manufacturing, a student-run advanced manufacturing enterprise tied to Oak Ridge High School. The program offers hands-on training, college credit opportunities, and workforce development experience. Teacher support is another recurring area. Oak Ridge Schools received $50,398 for a teacher grant, and the foundation’s active programs include competitive annual Educator Grants plus the Benita Albert Innovate Teaching Fellowship for educators developing innovative teaching practices, especially in STEM. The foundation also funds student advancement outside the classroom. It gave $12,400 for scholarships for students, and its active scholarship programs include the Oak Ridge High School Class of 1970 Scholarship and the Lawler Exchange Student Scholarship for exchange programs, international meetings, and study abroad. STEM remains visible in program support through the $7,500 grant to Oak Ridge High School for FIRST Robotics.

How Oak Ridge Public Schools Education Foundation Gives