Stone Creek Elementary Earns $25,000 Grant for Energy Efforts, Students Celebrate with Surprises

At Stone Creek Elementary, smart energy choices are turning into real rewards. This week, students received a big one — a $25,000 grant from EPB and TVA through the School Uplift program, recognizing their commitment to saving energy and improving their learning environment.

Abby Cook, a teacher at Stone Creek, shared her excitement about how the grant will benefit the school:
“The grant we’re getting will improve our learning environment. We’re excited to add a book vending machine to reward students for doing well. They’ll earn tokens to choose a brand-new book of their own,” said Cook. “We’ll also be resurfacing the blacktop and adding a paint kit to make it more educational and useful for both teachers and students.”

Stone Creek’s efforts to save energy have been hands-on, with students becoming energy-saving heroes. From turning off lights to unplugging devices, the school’s Energy Squad has made energy efficiency part of their daily routine. And the students had some great advice for their peers:

Student Quote: “Before you leave, double-check everything that uses energy — like lights and chargers — because they can take up a lot of power.”

As a thank-you for all their hard work, the students were treated to a surprise pizza party — a fun way to celebrate the success of their energy-saving initiatives.