November 9, 2004

For More Information, Contact: Kimberly Stark (901) 333-4023

TVA GRANT WILL FUND UPGRADE OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGIES PROGRAM AT SOUTHWEST

The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) has presented Southwest Tennessee Community College (Southwest) with a $5,000 grant to upgrade its Mechanical Engineering Technologies program.

The grant will assist the Business, Career Studies and Technologies Department to refine the interactive capability of the distance learning project in the Mechanical Engineering Technologies program and was written and applied for by Geoff Wood, assistant professor in Engineering Technology. “The grant will allow us to continue to increase the level at which our students enter the workforce,” said Wood. “The Allen Fossil Plant has hired a number of our students in the past, and we this grant will allow us to continue to provide them with a highly-skilled workforce.”

“TVA proudly supports the local Memphis community and is partnering with Southwest to provide this donation,” said TVA Allen Fossil Plant manager, Louis Lee. “We are glad to help with the purchase of mobile distance learning equipment that will make technical courses more accessible to Southwest students.” The Allen Fossil Plant historically hires graduates of the Southwest Mechanical Engineering Technologies programs.

The grant check presentation to the College was made Thursday, November 4 in the President’s office on the Macon Cove Campus.

TVA’s Corporate Contributions program supports public education that emphasizes learning activities associated with energy and environmental education as well as vocational and technical education in skill areas that are vital to TVA’s workforce. TVA’s objective is to support institutions that educate and train individuals with the skills TVA will need in the future, and the skills that industries being recruited into the Valley Region will need.