ATA donates $1,000 to North Middle School Tech Lab

  • Published
  • By Kathy Gattis
  • AEDC/PA
ARNOLD AIR FORCE BASE, TENN. --  Aerospace Testing Alliance (ATA) recently made a donation to North Middle School (NMS) in Winchester to support a new technology lab. The $1,000 donation was used to buy materials and supplies needed to get the program up and running.

The technology lab will help students learn design and computer programming along with electronics (sensors) in tandem. Later chemistry will be incorporated. The lab is the first of its kind in area middle schools.

A North Middle School instructor and coach for the Tech Club, Jim Murphy, has a total of 80 students involved in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) programs.

"ATA's support and partnership with our school will give NMS students opportunities they wouldn't have otherwise," Murphy said. "I see firsthand that many of our students are gifted and talented in STEM related subjects. It is my educational philosophy that giftedness, talent and interest should be fostered through clubs and extra-curricular activities in a fun and working environment."

Murphy is a middle school math and science teacher and has been using STEM in the classroom for the majority of his 36 years in education. He requested a donation from ATA after discovering some of his students' parents work at Arnold Engineering Development Complex (AEDC).

In addition to the ATA donation, the AEDC STEM Center is partnering with the North Middle School as well. For the first time students can participate in a MATHCOUNTS team, Lego League, a technology lab and a STEM aviation class.

"The students we are educating today through ATA-NMS STEM clubs will be in America's workforce until 2060-2070," Murphy said. "They will be working in jobs and fields that don't yet exist, and it is my belief that the majority of jobs will require a STEM background at some level.

"It is my vision that through the support and recognition of ATA and AEDC, North Middle School's reputation as a school for academic excellence in STEM, will be recognized throughout the state."

Murphy has several volunteers, including two from ATA's parent company, Jacobs, but he can always use more. Anyone who is interested in helping students with STEM activities can contact Murphy through ATA PA at 454-7723 or through North Middle School. Most of the teams and clubs will meet after school.

The AEDC STEM Center is designed to provide interactive learning for teachers and students K-12. The mission is to inspire and develop student interest in STEM careers, especially in communities that surround Arnold Air Force Base, laboratories and other Department of Defense facilities.

The STEM Center includes a lending library. Schools can check out or borrow a variety of items used to enhance learning in the classroom.

There are limited funds available through the AEDC STEM program for sponsoring team activities in a variety of competitions. For additional information on donations or the lending library, go to http://www.arnold.af.mil/STEM/.

For those interested in education donations through ATA, the company uses an Employee and Community Activities Committee (EACAC) to review donation requests and help ATA distribute funds to support activities that encourage learning and promote interest in STEM fields.

ATA employees can submit a request for funds to support education projects, supplies, or competitive events. The committee also supports charitable organizations in the area surrounding AEDC.

Bedford, Cannon, Coffee, Franklin, Grundy, Lincoln, Marion, Moore, Rutherford and Warren counties are the primary areas covered since these are the areas where most of the Complex's employees reside. For more information contact the EACAC at www.aerospacetestingalliance.com.

AEDC also offers a tour program with hands-on activities tied to school curriculum. The tours are free and open to any school system. AEDC and the University of Tennessee Space Institute work together on eighth grade tours. Call ATA PA at 454-5655 for more information or to schedule a tour.